ACI Contributes Where Others Do Not

Following its core values, ACI seeks to play a part in improving the quality of people’s lives through the creation of new jobs and offerings services to people. Based on this belief, the Medical Information and Research Team as well as the Medical Services Department of ACI Pharmaceuticals partnered with CARE Bangladesh – an international development agency – to initiate a healthcare project under the name Amar Shasthya, which stands for “my health.”

Commencing in May 2009, the initiative has undertaken activities with the intent to reach the most underprivileged section of the population living in the most isolated and remote parts of the country, literally, where no access to medical services of any kind is available. Total lack of health services in such rural regions has been a growing concern that ACI felt could be mitigated with the helping hands of corporate organizations. What many thought to be rather impossible has been done by ACI with a simple and innovative solution. To allow the team to overcome the transport difficulty in reaching the water-clogged areas, Tothya Tori, or the “Information Boat,” was built and well-equipped with computers, Internet, and other prerequisite facilities to ensure access and service even to the most isolated parts of the country. Armed and ready, ACI and CARE have since provided medical facilities to the seven camps in various locations. Hence, such initiatives from ACI have led to a remarkable increase in service satisfaction, thereby spreading the company’s goodwill among the needy villagers.

Initially, the program was dedicated for the impoverished people of the Haor, or “water-clogged,” region adjacent to the Sylhet, Shunaganj, and Kishoreganj districts of Bangladesh. The locals on the expanse of wetlands are housed on remote and secluded islands called Aatis. They do not have clean water access or proper sewerage and are therefore prone to water-borne diseases, skin diseases, eyesight problem, arthritis, gastric-related issues, chest pains, allergies, heatstroke, regular fever, maternal health issues, etc. Moreover, because the government-run THC (Thana Health Centre) of the Upazila Sadar (Sub-District) is hours away, health clinics at the union level as well as qualified doctors are lacking in this rural region, where “village doctors” have flourished despite inadequate medical knowledge and technological know-how.

In addition, for an individual earning on average Tk. 100 ($1.37) a day, paying a thousand Taka ($13.70) for a doctor’s visit from Upazila (for transportation, medicine, fees, etc.) is not only highly expensive but impossible for poor villagers to afford. As a result, while some manage by borrowing from others, some completely skip the visits; only the comparatively well-off may find themselves fortunate enough to afford such quality medical services.

Amar Shasthya is currently operating devotedly in selected areas of the country that lack medical aid of any kind. The locations include places like Sunamganj and Kishoreganj, most parts of which are totally inaccessible for half of the year by any means of transport other than boat. Under sponsorship of the company, the communities are provided with doctors, medicines, follow-up sessions, and camp-day management.

The project sets up medical camps, which are built in local high schools, as those offer the only proper infrastructure in any village. The field staff of CARE are entrusted with the responsibility of organizing the camps. The staff consult with the boat manager and finalize the location of the camp. After that the staff and boat personnel visit the proposed camp site a couple of times to talk to the local authorities, school headmaster, teachers, and other people regarding the camp. Upon finalization of choosing the school venue, ACI is notified of the location and a date is fixed.

In the meantime, ACI and its regional office send doctors (normally two) to the camp. Prior to the camps being set up, the boat authorities run a promotional activity in the area of the camp. Horns are hired to make prior announcements about the camp. Tokens for the camp are distributed simultaneously in the boat and in the villages before the camp is built. Normally 120 tickets are distributed for a day-long visit to the camp. The tickets are issued at a very nominal price to respect the dignity of the poor villagers who are buying the service. Though the demand is even higher, this is the number of patients that two doctors can examine within four hours.

Reportedly, a total of 877 patients received treatment in the last period from Amar Shasthya for various health issues, including gastrointestinal issues, eye problems, conjunctivitis, various skin diseases, malnutrition, and reproductive diseases. Under Amar Shasthya, patients were treated in camps by doctors. Some women even claimed that Dr. Rumana Dowla – Project Manager in charge of Amar Shasthya and Coordinator and Manager from ACI (Medical Information and Research) – was the first female doctor they had seen in their whole life.

This humanitarian response for the remote people of the Haor region not only brought relief to these medically deprived people, it also gave them proper medicines, all for free. On the other hand, this also allowed ACI to earn well-deserved goodwill and respect in the communities.

The general population considers the project activities as being extremely beneficial from every aspect. People have access to quality doctors and medicine, even though it is limited. Health camps for general medical checkups as well as eye camps and supplies of complete courses of medicine are greatly valued by the locals as well. The only area where the project currently needs to do more is to carry out increased follow-up sessions. Through these activities, we believe that ACI has already undertaken steps to confront health issues in Bangladesh. The company promises to go to the next level to help out the distressed. Though some might consider it as just a few drops in the ocean, we at ACI believe it is the start of a noble cause. A lot more can be done with such cost-effective and simple initiatives, and by partnering with the right organizations, it can lead to much greater impacts.

The Amar Shasthya health initiative will be continued and expanded to other similar “Information Boats” run by CARE in the Haor region. Expansion would help these poor people further by including people from the neighboring villages. CARE has been working in the region for a long time and has access to and information about the place. ACI is in a great position to use its links and make an impact from a socially responsible perspective.