Japan supports Bangladeshi grass-roots human security projects

The Government of Japan has extended a grant of approximately Bangladeshi taka 24 million [$286,000] for supporting health services to thousands of grass-roots people in Bangladesh, said a press release issued by Japanese embassy in Dhaka on Monday.

The grant money will be distributed to three Bangladeshi NGOs -- Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS), Prism Bangladesh Foundation (PRISM) and Trust for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (TRP) -- through Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) of Japan for implementation.

Firstly, TMSS has been awarded the grant of approximately taka 7 million for “The Project for Installation of Medical Equipment to Strengthen the Capacity of Coronary and Trauma Services Bogura District”, said the release issued by Japan embassy in Dhaka on Monday.

Cardiovascular diseases and road traffic accidents are some of the leading causes of death and disability in Bogura.

TMSS Medical College and Rafatullah Community Hospital (TMC&RCH)” located adjacent to the Rangpur highway in Bogura district has been providing Outdoor/ Indoor/ Emergency medical services for the people at low cost.

In order to enhance the coronary and trauma services in TMC-RCH, TMSS has received the grant for the procurement of C-Arm machine, ETT machine and trauma manikin.

C-Arm will be used to assist surgeries for cardiac surgery and treatment of trauma, whereas ETT machine will allow patients with cardiac conditions to have efficient diagnosis and treatment.

At least 1,600 patients will be benefitted from C-Arm and ETT machine annually, while 360 people will be annually trained with the trauma manikin.

Meanwhile, PRISM has been awarded the grant of approximately taka 7 million for “The Project for Installation of the Equipment for Medical Waste Management in Rajshahi District”.

In Rajshahi city, there was no Medical Waste Management plant for 205 healthcare Establishments.

Because of the current infrastructural development, the number of hospitals and clinics is increasing in urban area, thus proper medical waste management is essential to reduce the risk of infection.

Under this project, PRISM will install an Autoclave, a Boiler and two Collection vehicles in their medical waste management plant. Rajshahi City Corporation signed MoU with PRISM to support this project.

These products can contribute for improving hygiene and safety of Rajshahi City, and about 450,000 citizens will be benefitted from this project.

Finally, the TRP has been awarded the grant of approximately taka 10 million for “The Project for Construction of the Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with Disabilities in Moulvibazar District”.

Through this project, TRP will construct the ground floor of a new rehabilitation centre for poor people with disabilities in Moulvibazar.

Their current rehabilitation centre in Moulvibazar was too small compared to the number of patients, and some patients has to go to TRP’s Dhaka Centre for the proper treatment. 

The people with disabilities are forced to risk their health by travelling long distance to Dhaka, so it is necessary to expand the capacity of the Moulvibazar centre.

After constructing the new Moulvibazar centre, TRP can provide treatment for 740 patients and vocational training for 40 people with disabilities per year. 

Japan has supported 197 NGO projects through its Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) since 1989 with the view to enhance economic and social human security in the grass-roots levels.

The total sum of these GGHSP grants extended to NGOs in Bangladesh to date amounts to approximately $ 15 million.

Kamruzzaman