OBAT helping Rohingyas

Medical facilities have been set up for the Rohingyas in densely populated hilly areas. There are 39 primary health centers and 97 health posts in full swing where maternity services, minor surgeries, X-ray, dental unit facilities are available. Treatment and medicine are both absolutely free for Rohingyas. Hundreds of patients were seen flocking to the OBAT-Marginal Health Post to seek health care.

Visiting the health post of this refugee camp in Kutupalong, Ukhia on Monday, it was seen that they were being treated according to the health rules during the coronation period. Huge house made of bamboo-cane on the hill. Reception room, emergency department, outpatient department, dental department, maternity service, pharmacy and laboratory services have been set there. Patients are also taking care wearing masks. Who did not bring mask, authorities at the Obat-Marginal Health Post are gifting them masks. Doctors are also giving awareness advice about coronavirus along with healthcare. 

Anwara of the refugee camp said she went to the health post with her child. She returned with free medicine after being advised by a doctor.

Dental services are also available there. Two BDS doctors are providing this service. Dr. Sanjeev Bhowmik said, “All kinds of medical services are provided here. There are sophisticated tools in this regard. Even dental fillings are done here to enhance the beauty of the teeth.”

Dr. Fahmida Shabnam (General Physician) said that if there is no complicated patient, all kinds of health services including maternity are being provided here. We have to referr elsewhere very rarely. An average of 300 patients is being treated at this Health Post every day from morning to afternoon. There are various equipments including oxygen concentrator, aspirator machine, portable ventilator, non-invasive ventilator, patient monitor, autoclave machine to provide health care in case of emergency.

According to sources, there are currently 80 NGOs working in the Rohingya camps. Since September 2018, the Marginal Development Society has been providing healthcare at the Rohingya camp in Ukhia upazila of Cox's Bazar with the technical assistance of Refugee Crisis Foundation and MedGlobal with the financial support of OBAT.

Rohingya women are being trained in sewing with the help of OBAT. About 100 Rohingya women are being trained here. Earlier, 96 Rohingya women made masks for training. They got Tk 10 for making each mask. These masks are being sold in the markets run by UNO and BRAC in Ukhia market. More than 10,000 trained Rohingya women were seen making masks.

In this situation, awareness activities are being carried out through specific representatives by reducing public gatherings. Masum Mahbub, director of OBAT Helpers USA, said, camp residents were being made aware of the negative aspects of maintaining a safe distance, using masks, washing hands with soap and even child marriage. He said that these activities are being carried out through the representatives of Corona.