Doctors Without Borders set to wrap up decade-long medical prog in Kamrangirchar
Since 2010, the aid group has provided healthcare in the densely populated area
Doctors Without Borders is set to conclude its decade-long medical programme in Kamrangirchar, Dhaka, by March this year, transitioning services to local providers.
The move follows a global review of humanitarian responses initiated in 2023 to adapt to evolving needs, says a press release.
Since 2010, the aid group Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has provided healthcare in the densely populated industrial area, initially focusing on child malnutrition before expanding to address broader health challenges.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
In 2013, the organisation shifted its focus to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for teenage girls, support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, and occupational health services for factory workers.
MSF operated clinics in Ali Nagar and Madbor Bazar, supported the Kamrangirchar 31-bed government hospital, and ran mental health care and outreach activities to raise awareness about occupational health in informal factories.
"Over the last ten years, MSF's health programme in Kamrangirchar has provided medical services to over 77,000 people working in precarious jobs with limited rights and protections, including almost 1,000 children under 14," said Christabel Mayienga, MSF medical team leader in Kamrangirchar.
"While workplace conditions in Bangladesh are improving, a Bangladesh Labour Force Survey indicates that nearly 85% of jobs in such environments remain hazardous."
MSF's decade-long service has also highlighted significant barriers to healthcare access, particularly for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, who often face stigma and distrust of support systems. Despite these challenges, MSF teams have provided care to 11,295 survivors over the past decade, according to the press release.
"Ahead of its departure, MSF has enhanced support for the Kamrangirchar 31-bed hospital, assisting in the launch of Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) services, logistical and staffing support, and the establishment of a waste management zone. This initiative aims to ensure continued access to healthcare for sexual and reproductive health patients," added Christabel Mayienga.
However, challenges persist in Kamrangirchar. Rapid urbanisation, overcrowding, inadequate public infrastructure, environmental pollution, and the vulnerability of its large migrant population continue to strain healthcare services.
Christoph Friedl, MSF project coordinator in Kamrangirchar said, "While MSF's presence in Kamrangirchar is ending, we hope other organisations will step in to address the persistent gaps in sexual and gender-based violence care and occupational health services, building on our foundation and ensuring continued access to comprehensive care for the most vulnerable."
