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BRAC and Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery Sign MoU Featured

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BRAC and Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery Sign MoU

Accident survivors with disabilities will receive faster and subsidised treatment
We want to establish BRAC model in 8 medical colleges: Health directorate DG

Development organisation BRAC and the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (SHNIBPS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today on Saturday (27 August) at the SHNIBPS conference room in the capital. The public-private partnership agreement will enable the two organisations to give faster and affordable treatment to the patients who have lost limbs in accidents.

Organisers said under this MoU, low-income patients will be able to get international quality treatment at an affordable cost (expenses will be up to 50% subsidised). In December 2021, BRAC and SHNIBPS jointly opened a new unit of Limb and Brace Center on the premises of SHNIBPS to run on a pilot basis, under the planning and operation of BRAC Limb and Brace Center (BLBC). So far, the unit gave subsidised rehabilitation care to over 450 patients. Under this MoU its services will see sustainable enhancement from now on.

Established in 1972, BRAC, now the world’s one of the largest development organisations, has been working for people’s socio-economic development including health and nutrition. Road traffic accidents (RTA), diabetic gangrene, burn, burger’s disease, cancer and congenital anomalies were reported to be some of the major causes of disability in Bangladesh. The BRAC Limb and Brace Center (BLBC) was established with a vision to support persons with disabilities, particularly from low-income communities. It provides patients with low cost, quality and user-friendly customised Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O) services along with physiotherapy, counselling and rehabilitation services.

The event was attended by Professor ABM Khurshid Alam, director general, Directorate General of Health Services, Asif Saleh, executive director, BRAC, Professor Dr Md Abul Kalam, director, SHNIBPS, Dr Samanta Lal Sen, national coordinator, SHNIBPS, and Dr Morseda Chowdhury, director, BRAC Health Nutrition and Population Programme.

BRAC ED Asif Saleh and SHNIBPS director Professor Dr Md Abul Kalam signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations.

DGHS director-general Professor ABM Khurshid Alam said at the signing ceremony, “I thank BRAC for this great initiative. A large number of patients will benefit from this Limb and Brace Center. We have to make sure smooth operation of this Center. I want to replicate BRAC model to eight more medical colleges in the country. I would ask BRAC to come up with plans on which we will collaborate. You stood by the people during COVID-19, you are there now too. I do thank you, BRAC.”

BRAC ED Asif Saleh said, “Our founder Sir Fazle Hasan Abed was a social entrepreneur. Until his death he emphasised that BRAC will have to continue innovating solutions for new social issues, or else it would become irrelevant to the society. Following his guidance, BRAC continues its work to innovate models for pressing social problems. Through the model that we are launching today we are trying to give a much-needed service to people using the government infrastructure, where we have been successful in making it easily accessible and affordable. We had started the piloting with a positive mind upon receiving a proposal from the government to work in this area. Now we want to replicate this model. I am very hopeful about this sector because both you and we are eager to work collaboratively.”

He further added, “We have to think more on transforming it to a holistic system and bringing private sector organisations in this effort. We need strong collaboration for future success. Alongside, we would have to work to prevent road and all other forms of accidents. I am hopeful that in future this model will act as an exemplary partnership model for others to follow.”

BRAC HNPP director Dr Morseda Chowdhury said, “We are part of this PPP because we are earnest in our effort to serve the poor. Beforehand, an injured patient will have to visit different places for different kinds of healthcare. Now we are trying to bring all kinds of treatment and healthcare services under the same umbrella for them.”

SHNIBPS national coordinator Dr Samanta Lal Sen said, “I consider myself fortunate to have this Limb and Brace Center of BRAC operating here. We will now be able to give treatment services to many more patients. We will also be able to bring more such patients using BRAC’s network to give them treatment.”

SHNIBPS director Professor Dr Md Abul Kalam said, “Every year many people become disabled from electrocution. We give prosthetics services to 300-350 patients every year. BRAC’s proposal was important for us. We have been able to give services to over 450 people in just last eight months. We therefore heartily thank BRAC.”

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