HAEFA NEWSLETTER – December 2022

Posted on January 30, 2023May 22, 2023 by Md. Saiful Alam

HAEFA’s Healthcare Services in Bangladesh: a year end summary

59,004 women (30-60 years) were screened for the detection of early-stage cervical cancer in 9 Upazilas of Kurigram from Nov. 2019 – Nov. 2022
36,176 women (30-60 years) were screened for the detection of early-stage cervical cancer in 6 Upazilas of Cox’s Bazar from July 2021 – November 2022
248,444 Rohingya refugees/FDMN in Ukhiya and Bangladeshi nationals living in the surrounding Ukhiya Upazila (sub-district) received free medical care in Cox’s Bazar from October 2017 to November 2022
39,968 Rohingya refugees/FDMN in Bhashan Char and Bangladeshi nationals living on the island have received free medical care in Bhashan Char, Noakhali, since November 2020
More than 2950 Bangladeshi nationals in Ukhiya received free medical services from the Mobile Medical Clinics of HAEFA in 2022.
A total of 8786 Diagnostic Lab Tests have been performed at HAEFA’s NCD-based Path Lab in camp 09 since January 2022.
More than 6,000 Healthcare providers were trained under the TOT program for Mental Health Support and Resilience Training in collaboration with Project HOPE
More than 3,000 physicians received the Advanced COVID-19 Clinical Management Certification online at the DGHS, MoHFW website. This course collaborates with DGHS, Brown University CHRHS, Project HOPE, HAEFA, USAID, and SCiB.
More than 40 students from classes six to twelve at (Bhawal Mirzapur Hazi Jamir Uddin School And College) received annual merit scholarships from 2019 till to date. This is a collaboration between HAEFA and M A Malek Education Scholarship Foundation.
COVID-19 Relief Effort for Underprivileged people :
HAEFA Provided a two-week supply of food packages for more than 1,500 families (5 members/family) in 5 districts of Bangladesh in 2021-2022.

Refresher on Mobile Colposcopy and Hand-held Thermocoagulation and Colposcopy Camp

A refresher workshop on Mobile Colposcopy and hand-held thermocoagulation was held on 14th-15th November 2022 at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Organized by the support of UNFPA to the 4th HPNSP through DGHS, the session was held for single visit screening and treatment, to prevent cervical cancer. Brown University trainers Prof. Dr. Susan Cu-Uvin and Prof. Dr. Ruhul Abid had personally visited and joined the session. HAEFA’s expert trainers and physicians moderated the training session. Professor Dr. Najma Hoque, Professor and Head of Department, Obstetrics and Gynae, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital along with Professor. Dr. Fatema Rahman, Professor. Dr. Khodeja Begum, Assistant Professor Dr. Lutfa Begum Lipi, Associate Professor Dr. S M Shahida, Dr. Samina Sultana, Consultant, Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Rajib, R/S DMCH, and 4 Junior Consultants and 4 SSNs were present at the session.

After two days of successful training sessions at the DMCH National Training (TOT) Center for Cervical Cancer, Prof. Dr. Susan Cu-Uvin, Director, Brown Global Health, and Prof. Dr. Ruhul Abid, President, HAEFA, along with the HAEFA medical team visited Kurigram. A second refresher training of physicians, SSN and midwives for cervical cancer one-stop see-and-treat digital screening and treatment program was held in Kurigram on 16th November, 2022; organized by the Civil Surgeon Office Kurigram and HAEFA, with the support of UNFPA and Brown University, and implemented by the DGHS.

HAEFA has been developing the One-stop See-and-Treat CC screening and treatment program here in 9 Upazilas (sub-districts) in collaboration with the DGHS since 2019. More than 56,000 women (30-60 years) received this unique digital healthcare service. HAEFA Bangladesh is the pioneer of this program in Bangladesh, for which it has been the recipient of the Stars in Global Health Award from the Grand Challenges Canada in 2018. Thirty-one women with ore-cancerous lesions (early signs) of cervical cancer from 3 different Upazilas received treatment by the medical team of HAEFA under the supervision of Professor Dr. Susan Cu-Uvin of Brown University Global Health Initiative. Patients were elated after receiving their life-saving and humane treatment, conveying gratitude through hugs to the HAEFA and Brown medical team members.

Prof. Dr. Ruhul Abid delivers speech on Career Planning

The President of HAEFA, Prof. Dr. Ruhul Abid delivered a lecture on Career Planning: Road to USA on 21st November 2022 at Dhaka Medical College.

HAEFA supported Cox’s Bazar District Hospital wins award for VIA Screening, Follow-up, Treatment and Support

HAEFA, with the support of UNFPA, with the funding from The World Bank Health and Gender Support Project and under the leadership of DGHS, implemented Cervical Cancer Screening projects in seven VIA centers in Cox’s Bazar. For VIA Screening, Follow-up, Treatment and Support, the Cox’s Bazar District Hospital has been selected as the Best VIA center based on the total number of VIA, the total number of data entries, and positive patient follow-up. VIA in-charge, Masuda Akter, has been selected as one of the best service providers.

The ceremony was held on November 2, 2022, at BSMMU in Dhaka, and the honorable Health and Family Welfare Minister, Zahid Malik, handed over the certificate in the presence of the Civil Surgeon, Cox’s Bazar, and the superintendent of Cox’s Bazar District Hospital.

Accessible Healthcare for the Rohingya FDMNs/Refugees

HAEFA healthcare workers have provided free medical care and medicine to the Rohingya FDMNs since its establishment in October 2017. In November 2022, more than 5,440 individuals received free medical care and diagnostic services from HAEFA.

Kutupalong (Camp 1W):

More than 3,100 patients visited Camp 1W in Kutupalong and received healthcare services.
114 laboratory tests were conducted at HAEFA’s semi-automated NCD Pathological Laboratory

Balukhali (Camp 09):

More than 2,330 patients visited Camp 09 in Balukhali and received healthcare services.
139 laboratory tests were conducted at HAEFA’s semi-automated NCD Pathological Laboratory

FDMN Rohingya Camp at Bhashan Char:

More than 1,740 patients visited the HAEFA Medical Check-Up and Treatment for FDMN Rohingya Camp at Bhashan Char and received healthcare services.

HAEFA Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment

Cervical cancer kills 6,582 women annually in Bangladesh, where the diagnosis rate is 2-3 times higher than in the U.S. and hosts a mortality rate five times higher. HAEFA has implemented a “See-and-Treat” Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment Program to reduce these numbers, using a one-stop mobile (digital) colposcopy and thermocoagulation.
- In Kurigram District, HAEFA provided over 1900 women with cervical cancer screenings conducted in Upazila Health Complexes (UHCs). 28 patients were found VIA positive through the initial screening test and referred for further investigation and treatment. One cervical cancer patient received 3 cycle brachytherapie in November, 2022.
- More than 1,480 women were screened in 6 VIA Centers (Sadar Hospital, MCWC, Ramu UHC, Moheshkhali UHC, Chakaria UHC, Pekua UHC) and 6 VIA camps in the respective Upazilas of Cox’s Bazar, including one hard-to-reach Upazila, Moheshkhali, in November. 28 patients were found VIA positive, through the initial VIA screening test and referred for further investigation. 9 colposcopies were performed at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital.
- Cases that tested positive through the initial VIA screening were referred for further investigation. Our team followed up with the patients and organized a second VIA screening test and colposcopy in Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital, where both colposcopy and thermocoagulation were performed. The Cox’s Bazar Project team followed up with previously identified cancer patients and referred them to Chattogram Medical College and the National Institute of Cancer Research & Hospital (NICRH), Mohakhali, Dhaka for further treatment.

HAEFA Health Clinic for Host Community

From the beginning of the Rohingya FDMN (refugee) crisis, HAEFA has provided primary medical treatment and medical services for both non-communicable diseases (NCD) and communicable diseases (CD) to the FDMN population as well as to the surrounding host community. Underserved patients from beyond the camp have also been coming to HAEFA Health Clinics to receive treatment.

Free services provided to patients include screening and treatment for Non-communicable chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, asthma, malnutrition), communicable diseases, and Family Planning services. However, due to recently installed fencing setups, the surrounding communities have limited access to health clinics to receive free medical screenings, treatment, and follow-ups. To help these host community patients access care, HAEFA has started a new weekly Mobile Medical Clinic for the host community.

In November, the HAEFA Health Clinic services for the host community were provided on the 10th and 17th of the month to more than 130 patients, at two different locations, including the Shonarpara Model High School and AKNC High School, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, respectively.

HAEFA believes this new chapter of providing healthcare services to the surrounding host community will improve the quality of life and bring bright smiles and hope to the faces of disadvantaged and vulnerable people.

Donate to Support Our Cause!

HAEFA is in need of donations to support the Rohingya FDMN (Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals) healthcare and COVID-19 relief efforts. Any support, whether donations, outreach, aid in collaboration from personal and professional involvement, or any other method of support to HAEFA and its underprivileged, underserved, and displaced beneficiaries, would be greatly appreciated! All donations to HAEFA are tax-deductible as allowed by the laws of the United States.

HAEFA’s Tax Identification Number (EIN): 46-2997707
NTEE: Public Health Program (E70)
Text-to-Donate: 53-555 (Keyword: HAEFA)

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