Supporting population health through Bangladesh Health Project

Cataract surgery for ultra-poor residents

We rely on donations to support various health services for vulnerable people living in Balagram village. These include

·         financial assistance to ultra-poor individuals for medical treatment (e.g. schizophrenia medication and cataract surgery).

·         operating costs of a primary care clinic to provide village residents (adults and children) with basic health screening to manage chronic illness and disability

·         teacher support in OfP’s primary school and two early learning centres so that village children can learn how to maintain healthy lifestyles.

Rehabilitation support for disabled children

You can make donations to BHP through Vancouver’s Mid-Main Community Health Centre, at this link. Please indicate that your donation is for the Bangladesh Health Project.

Concerns about AI among health care workers

Shuvashish Das Bala, Assistant Professor & Coordinator at IUBAT College of Nursing has co-authored another original research article titled “I Wonder if my Years of Training and Expertise Will be Devalued by Machines: Concerns About the Replacement of Medical Professionals by Artificial Intelligence" in SAGE Open Nursing. The paper was based on semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions in Dhaka with nearly 50 participants who had recent AI training or experience, including nurses, physicians, radiologists, medical technicians, pharmacists, and hospital administrators. The authors conclude, “The study underscores the need for ethical guidelines and robust regulatory frameworks, balancing innovation with ethical and legal considerations…. Trust and acceptance of AI are central to the successful adoption of this technology…. Patient–provider relationships and the intricacies of healthcare policy and regulation also play pivotal.… While concerns exist, AI has the potential to be a transformative force that, when harnessed with care and ethical considerations, can enhance the healthcare sector for the benefit of both professionals and patients.”

Professional training for better futures

Rural women and children stay behind when male relatives leave for work elsewhere

Oasis Institute for Science and Technology (OIST) is based in Rangpur Division in the north-west of Bangladesh. With a population around 18 million, Rangpur is the poorest of seven divisions in Bangladesh with the highest incidence of extreme poverty. Balagram, the village where OIST is located located, is a so-called “monga” zone, a Bengali term referring to a cyclical phenomenon of poverty and hunger. It occurs twice each year, from September to November (after the first rice crop is planted) and from March to April (following the second planting). These natural phenomena lead to fewer local jobs, resulting in rural workers migrating for work; those who cannot migrate may face food inadequacy and malnutrition.

His younger brothers attend Bluebell School, but the eldest must work.

During community dialogues in Balagram, local residents have told us that higher education opportunities are very scarce in the area, creating a barrier for advancement even for capable high school graduates. OIST offers students training for high-demand jobs in civil and computer technologies. Our first batch of students performed well in recent national exams and is about to enter their third year of training. As their studies progress, students need new learning tools to practice their technical skills.  We rely on donor contributions to purchase learning tools and equipment for the civil engineering and computer technologies programs. If you would like to support development of these training resources,  please visit our BHP donations page or contact us directly.