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C-clearly News
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C-Clearly helps UK charity source vital equipment for Clinic in
Bangaladesh
MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THE POOREST OF THE POOR.
 In February 2006 as Federation President of Soroptimist International
of GB I (27 countries) visited our Soroptimist members in Bangladesh.
In Dhaka the members took me to a rural clinic on the outskirts
of the city. It was early morning and the que for treatment was
long. Mothers with young children, fathers with children on their
backs and in arms. Most looked malnourished and weary.
In Bangladesh there is a suspicion of free medicine, therefore
a nominal charge is made for each patient seen by the doctor,
a kind patient man who gives his time for the benefit of the poor,
two days per week (he has a practice in the city). I was astonished
to see him looking into ears and eyes with only an old torch to
aid him. He explained that there was not electricity in the vicinity,
therefore he could not use his electrical equipment from his own
surgery, and the cost of an additional opthalmascope and otoscope
was prohibitive partly due to the price (and short life) of batteries.
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On our return home I spoke to the Administrator of our Training
department at work who immediately put me in touch with Cathy
who sourced the necessary equipment (which was paid for by Stafford
Soroptimist Club and Myself) this was taken out to Bangladesh
by a member in November 2006 together with two pen lights donated
by the company. Cathy then sourced a solar battery charger that
can be used at the clinic, which I was able to take out on a return
visit in April this year. The members were overjoyed and anxious
to show me photographs of the Doctor using the otoscope in his
work with children.
The clinic does not simply diagnose and dispense medicines, families
are given advise on health care and nutrition, volunteers work
with pregnant women (often young girls) to advise them on pre
and post natal issues including breast feeding. The clinic is
a community resource in one of the poorest areas of the world.
It is incredible to believe that a few hundred pounds (probably
less than the cost of a holiday for many Europeans) has made so
much difference for so many people.
Ann Dawson
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