Bangladesh

A 40' sea container with medical equipment arrived in Chittagong, Bangladesh on 11 November 2011. This shipment is part of our ongoing effort to provide essential medical equipment for hospitals in Bangladesh in cooperation with the Bangladesh Medical Association of North America (BMANA) and Prof. Dr. Ahmed Ziauddin. Bangladesh is considered as one of the poorest countries of the world and the hospitals, which receive the equipment, treat their patients for free.

In March 2011 a modern X-ray system was sent to the emergency department of the main hospital in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.

In December 2009 a 40' sea container of valuable medical technology including mobile x-ray machines and ultrasound machines arrived in Bangladesh. The content of the container was distributed by the Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation for Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM) and Professor Azad Khan to the Kumudini Hospital, the Sylhet Sadar (Shamsuddin) Hospital and BIRDEM in Dhaka. The hospitals offer free treatment to the people of Bangladesh. The Oneness-Heart-Tears and  Smiles partnered with the Bangladesh Medical Association of North America (BMANA) and Prof. Dr. Ahmed Ziauddin, longtime President of BMANA, to arrange this shipment. Prof. Dr. Ahmed Ziauddin provided the necessary training so that the equipment can be used to its full potential.

An orphanage in Chittagong was provided with educational supplies, toys and clothing for the children, and also medical supplies for the clinic attached to the orphanage.

Eighty five pairs of new running shoes valued at USD6000 were sent to Bangladesh. Those athletes who show great promise but cannot afford shoes, will be provided with professional quality shoes through an amateur athletics federation. This federation organizes evennts including the national athletics competition, national summer athletics competition, national junior athletics competition and mini-marathon.

In partnership with several organisations, The Oneness-Heart-Tears and Smiles sent large quantities of medical and surgical supplies plus clothing to Bangladesh in response to devastating flooding.

The worst monsoon rains in six years have flooded 60 percent of Bangladesh. It is estimated that 20 million people or 1/7 of the population will need food for at least 5 months. As well, waterborne diseases are beginning to cause widespread illness. Bangladesh is already one of the poorest countries in the world, and the most densely populated country. In addition to severe food shortages, one million houses were partially destroyed and 155,000 houses were fully destroyed.

Our British office gathered water purification tablets (enough for 162,000L of water), food (rice, pulses, other dried food) and clothes to be delivered to Banglades