Renovated Lifebuoy floating hospital reopens

The Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital, the country's first floating hospital yesterday restarted its journey with renovation to expand its services among the marginalised people of char areas in the country.
The hospital commenced its activities in 2001 with the assistance of Unilever, which has been working in Bangladesh for a decade, especially for the communities of isolated chars and cyclone-hit regions.
Now, the hospital's service capacity for both outdoor and indoor patients has increased so that more people can be benefited, said Dr Shafiul Azam, programme manager, Health of the hospital.
“We primarily provide services to women and children at outdoor where male patients also come. But we have also indoor services for the patients with eye-related, dental and some other diseases,” he said.
The hospital can serve more than 200 patients every day, the doctor told this correspondent at the hospital's renovation launching ceremony at Mary Anderson VIP Jetty under Pagla in Narayanganj yesterday.
Mohammad Motaleb Miah, a 60-year-old bedridden patient, came to the hospital from Chandpur with cataract.
“My daughter admitted to this hospital after giving Tk 10 only as admission fee. They assured me of conducting operation and providing some necessary medicines for free of cost,” he said.
Planning Minister AK Khandaker inaugurated the launching ceremony as the chief guest.
Masuda Begum, a beneficiary of this hospital expressed her grave satisfactions and requested to expand the services for the welfare of the poor people.
AK Khandaker said the incumbent government has made tremendous successes in health sector of the country that was applauded by the international communities.
He also hoped the effort of the Lifebuoy Friendship hospital would boost up the health services for the people of char areas.
Masuda Begum, a beneficiary of the hospital expressed her immense satisfactions and requested the hospital authorities to expand the services for the welfare of the poor.