Specialised hospital for Rohingya, host community start operations in Ukhiya

A new specialised hospital in Ukhiya, funded by the UN Refugee Agency, began operations on Thursday, says a press release.

To this end, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the UN, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief on the day.

Dr Md Anwar Hossain Howlader, secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Md Kamrul Hasan, secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and Johannes Ven Der Klaauw, UNHCR representative signed the MoU.

The Ukhiya Specialized Hospital, constructed and equipped by UNHCR, will provide timely specialist support for patients in need of life-saving interventions and those who require secondary care.

The hospital will provide health services for both the Bangladeshi host community and Rohingya refugees living in the adjacent camps.

The new facility will provide all necessary equipment, and contribute initially free of cost.

The MoU also stipulates that the health ministry will progressively take over the management of the facility and the costs for all human resources, to take full responsibility by the end of a three-year period.

The hospital will provide outpatient services for surgery, trauma care, eye and dental care, physiotherapy and palliative care, while it also includes a 24/7 emergency unit, state of the art laboratory and diagnostic facility.

Medical and support staff from MoHFW and UNHCR partner organisations Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GK), Relief International and Orbis will provide services at the hospital.

One specific feature of the hospital is the provision of telemedicine services through virtual consultations and guidance by qualified specialists from the MoHFW and UNHCR’s partner.

Similar telemedicine services have been initiated on June 18 by MoHFW through the Civil Surgeon in Noakhali district, for Rohingya refugees living on Bhasan Char.

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