3. 3
Pioneer organization in building
innovative, affordable and
accessible community health care
services for the rural people.
Started in 1971 as a 480 bedded
Bangladesh Field Hospital at the
border of India
Registered as a public Charitable
Trust in 1972
4. 4
MMiissssiioonn &&VViissiioonn
Mission
Grame Cholo Gram Goro “(Let us
go to Village and build Village)
Vision
Fate of the poor decides fate of the
country,
Development of the country
depends on development of women
132 Eskaton Road, Dhaka
7. Today GK has increased its
overage to morethan 1.5 million
rural population with 43 PHC
centers in 647 villages across
the country with 5 referral
hospitals.
8. 8
An Illustration
of a GK worker
by the French
Support Committee
FRENCH SUPPORT COMITY
G-K SAVAR BANGLADESH
Non-profit-making body
COMITE FRANCAIS DE SOUTIEN
G-K SAVAR BANGLADESH
23, Esplanade Raoul Follereau
92130 Issy-Ies Moulineaus
F R A N C E
Fighting against multi-nationals
9. 9
Health is a reflection of society’s commitment to equity and
justice.
Poor health is both the cause and effect of poverty, illiteracy and
ignorance.
GK’s overall objective is to use primary healthcare an entry point
to work with the people , for the people, to develop a just society.
10. 10
GK’s health care model
GK provides a wide range of reproductive health services,
including ANC and PNC services through a cadre of village-based
trained health workers, known as paramedics, who are
mostly female.
GK provides primary health care services at community level
through field workers and specialized hospital care service at
secondary and tertiary referral care hospitals.
Unit cost of GK health services is very low and thus affordable.
18. 18
Community awareness raising
activities (Bou Shasuri Mela, Yard
meeting)
Health message dissemination
through poster, leaflet, billboard
Collaboration and advocacy with
government
Collaboration with other NGOs
Active role in national policy
development
Bou Shasuri Mela
Promotion ooff HHeeaalltthh CCaarree
25. 25
EEllddeerrllyy ccaarreess
Elderly cares aarree as follows
First registration, Home visit and group
discussion, Talk with them for mental
support, provide some basic care such
as :
Identification and registration (door
to door)
Physical check up urine for albumin
and sugar
Blood Pressure measurement
Vision test
Hearing test
Elderly fair
Elderly camp
Nail cutting
Bathing
physiotherapy for disabled elderly
people
Mental support especially by paramedics
during their visit.
Monthly record keeping
Brushing hair,
Remove lice,
And treatment of common problems,
Referral for special treatment
If belongs to the destitute group we
arrange food, clothing, mosquito net,
vegetable seeds and other commodities.
We also arrange special workshop for
their recreation in our primary health
care centre or in yard of some elderly
people house in the village.
26. 26
Demographic Profile of Rural Population Served by GK, 1420.
Aw Ka Kha Ga Gha Umo Total
1. Population 9516 653307 347820 150723 73314 19265 1253945
2. No of Families 3662 138493 77705 34346 16488 7211 277905
3. Family Size 2.60 4.72 4.48 4.39 4.45 2.67 4.51
4. a) Widows 780 9074 3964 1406 472 212 15908
% by total widows 4.90 57.04 24.92 8.84 2.97 1.33 100.00
b) Abandand Wives 86 944 346 107 52 35 1570
% by total abandand wives 5.48 60.13 22.04 6.82 3.31 2.23 100.00
c) Widowers 174 1349 711 243 102 93 2672
% by total widowers 6.51 50.49 26.61 9.09 3.82 3.48 100.00
d) Eligible Couple 1023 121184 63120 28493 13617 5706 233143
% by total eligible Couple 0.44 51.98 27.07 12.22 5.84 2.45 100.00
5. Total Pregnancy 27 10961 4691 1156 213 65 17113
6. a) Family Planning Practice 451 69365 38438 18641 10546 5379 142820
b) Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) 44.09 57.24 60.90 65.42 77.45 94.27 61.26
7. Total Live Births 20 7961 4029 569 95 22 12696
CBR-1000 Mid year Population 2.10 12.19 11.58 3.78 1.30 1.14 10.12
8. Total Still Births 0 160 52 6 0 3 221
SBR-1000 Births 0.00 19.70 12.74 10.43 0.00 120.00 17.11
9. Total Deaths 21 1499 579 128 25 8 2260
CDR-1000 Mid year Population 2.21 2.29 1.66 0.85 0.34 0.42 1.80
10. Neonatal Deaths 7 158 34 4 0 2 205
NNMR-1000 live births 0 19.85 8.44 7.03 0.00 90.91 16.15
11. Infant Deaths 6 208 51 6 1 2 274
IMR-1000 live births 0 26.13 12.66 10.54 10.53 90.91 21.58
12.Maternal Deaths 0 11 2 0 0 0 13
MMR-100000 live births 0 138.17 49.64 0.00 0.00 0 102.39
30. Gonoshasthaya Institute of Health Sciences Gonoshasthaya Vaccine Research Laboratory
30
GGoonnoo BBiisshhwwaabbiiddyyaallaayy--hheellppffuull ttoo ccoommbbaatt ssttrruugggglleess ooff
Old Campus (GB) New Campus (GB)
63. 63
Cyclone sshheelltteerr CCoonnssttrruuccttiioonn:: Two
schools cum cyclone shelters were
built each having 1400 sq.ft. plinth
area. Which can accommodate at
least 700 people at the time of cyclone
in each shelter. More 16 built in 1994
CCyycclloonnee sshheelltteerr
69. 69
Gonoshasthaya’s aid ffoorr ccyycclloonneess aanndd AAIILLAA
VViiccttiimmss
Death due to Aila 2009 was less in comparison to the previous disasters
but indirect devastation was very high and Govt appeal for external
assistance was inadequate As a result external assistance was less in
comparison to cyclone SIDR of 2007.
GK mobilized local recourses to mitigate emergency situation
immediately after cyclone AILA 2009.
GK in partnership with local NGO (JAS) worked effectively for safe Water
to serve most affected saline areas.
GK has contributed 15000 Euro with the assistance of France Support
Committee, Solideritis and Aquassistance France and ensured local
participation of 41.03% with local resources organized by JAS.
78. 1972 Certificate of Commendation in 1972 for contribution to the freedom struggle for the liberation
AAWWAARRDDSS::
of Bangladesh. The discovery of Penicillin was one of the milestones in the field of drug
manufacturing in the last century. One of those pioneer scientists Dr. Norman Heatly out of his
6 (six) vessels used for manufacturing Penicillin donated 1 (one) to Gonoshasthaya Kendra and
5(five) to Oxford University.
1974 Awarded the Swedish Youth Peace Prize in 1974 in recognition of his contribution in setting up
Gonoshasthaya Kendra, as a primary health care programme for the rural people utilizing rural
women and men in delivering health care.
78
1997
Bangladesh has Awarded the Independence Day Award, 1997 ( received in 1978), the
highest national award of recognition of his contribution to the development of primary
health care in Bangladesh and the delivery of family planning services at the grass roots level
1985 Awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award, popularly known as the ‘Asian Nobel Prize’ in 1985,in
recognition of GK’s contribution in National Drug Policy in Bangladesh
2002 ”University of California, Berkeley honored Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury with International
“Heroes of Public Health Award in March, 2002
1992 Under his leadership in 1992 Gonoshasthaya Kendra was given the Right Livelihood Award,
popularly known as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’, in recognition of its contribution to Primary
Health Care development in Bangladesh and its role in the introduction of a National Drug
Policy in Bangladesh.
1989 Moulana Bhasani Padak (Award)
1977 Shwadhinota Podok Independence Day award given by GOB in recognition of the services for
family planning
After Independence some of the workers of Bangladesh Field Hospital,with Dr.Zafrullah Chowdhury and Dr.Mobin had relocated the Hospital to 132 Eskaton Road, Dhaka.
particularly women and children, in liberated Bangladesh. The lessons learned from treating the Freedom Fighters and refugees proved invaluable in molding the character and destiny of today’s GK
This paper mainly offers a brief history of how the seeds of providing health care during the liberation struggle have grown and flowered into a unique and evolving center for using health care a means for social equity, human development and economic progress.
The paramedic system is a hallmark of Gk’s innovation. Through them GK took primary health care services at the doorstep of the poor people. It was a great challenge for GK to motivate orthodox local people especially women to work for health services for their community in 1972.
GK’s experience demonstrates how paramedics become an indispensable link between a community and its healthcare system. The practice is also cost effective. Providing healthcare is a team work. The paramedics program has developed the concept of the ‘health team ‘(paramedics and indigenous health professionals joining forces with doctors).Paramedics serve as the front-line workers and refer cases that are complicated to higher level of care..
GK has shown that reduction of maternal and child mortality does not need sophisticated hospital with super specialists; small hospitals, well trained TBA, supported by paramedics and dedicated professionals with an efficient referral system is the most important intervention.
Rickshaw pullers and their family have deplorable health situations. Many suffer from Acute Respiratory Tract Infections, diarrhea, Dysentery, Malaria, Dengue, Viral fever, TB, STD, Hepatitis, Anemia, Worms, Typhoid fever, Skin diseases, Hyperacidity, Malnutrition and Hernia. Female members of the families suffer from these illnesses more as the treatment is delayed or ignored because of poverty and social customs. Women are also vulnerable to sexual abuses by local hooligans.
GK is organizing Rickshaw and Van pullers to ensure good health care of the pullers and their family.
Their family will get free consultation from doctors
Children will get all vaccination free of charge
Members will get essential medicines at 50% price
On Indoor admissions, the members will get ultra sonogram/ x-ray, lab investigations of blood, urine and stool at Taka120 (less than 2 Dollars) including Caesarian section, Anesthesia and other surgical operations.
GK Health Care program provides the following services at community and Referral centers.
GK organized farming block aiming a land area of 5,000 acres varies from 15 – 30 acres to even 100-150 acres depending on soil fertility, irrigation facility and interests of the farmers in each block located in 5 affected Upazilla of Barguna, Perojpur and Bagerhat Districts.
If you Have any questions please feel free to contribute.