Having worked in the chars since 1998, Friendship was well aware that a land based operation, although ideal, would not be sustainable to serve the health needs of the chars and riverbanks of Bangladesh’s vast rivers. Given the distance of the islands from each other and mainland, a static health care system seemed quite redundant. To overcome all these obstacles, Runa Khan and Yves Marre decided to introduce the first floating hospital in Bangladesh.
The Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital was initiated by Friendship in 2001 with an aim to provide essential healthcare services to the char populace. The project was designed to reach char based population clusters that are isolated from the mainland in terms of physical distance and basic health care services. Following its unparalleled success at serving these communities, the Emirates Friendship Hospital was also introduced in 2008. Both hospitals are suitably equipped to provide primary and secondary care to its patients. The hospitals are also fully mobile and relocate every few months to serve a different char.
Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital
The Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital (LFH) is Friendship’s flagship programme and was initiated by Friendship in 2001 with an aim to provide essential primary healthcare services to char and riverbank-based population clusters in northern Bangladesh that are isolated from mainstream habitation. It is currently operating in the remote char areas of Jamuna River.
The LFH is a double-decked shallow draft barge, 38.5m long and 5.05m wide, originally an oil barge that has been converted to a fully equipped floating hospital with all necessary medical equipment for providing primary and secondary healthcare services. Conversion work began in November 2000 with support from Unilever Bangladesh, CIDA and other donors, and the hospital opened its doors in December 2001.
The LFH is at the core of Friendship’s healthcare services. The ship is automated by hospital management system software developed by Friendship and equipped with chambers for doctors, two operation theatres, gynaecology unit, specialised women's healthcare unit, eye unit, a special dental room with an operation facility, a pathological laboratory, a digitalised X-ray room and an ophthalmic room with surgical facility. These units serve anti-natal and post-natal care, general gynaecology, family planning and obstetrics and treat a number of general diseases. There is a dispensary onboard to distribute free medicine to the patients. The ship can accommodate up to 20 staff members.
LFH provides regular on board primary and secondary healthcare services. It also organises specialised health camps every month to provide advance secondary healthcare, where prominent local and international doctors volunteer their time to perform medical surgeries at the hospital.
The LFH offers has provided emergency healthcare after natural calamities such as floods and cyclones. LFH’s regular secondary health camps advance secondary healthcare to char inhabitants who for the most part have always lived without any.
Emirates Friendship Hospital
Friendship inaugurated its second floating hospital, the Emirates Friendship Hospital (EFH), on 22 November 2008. Built under the supervision of Friendship advisor, Yves Marre, the EHF is the first steel multi-hull ship made in Bangladesh.
In the past, EFH has served beneficiaries at Katlapur in Savar Thana in Dhaka District. EFH provides regular on board primary and secondary healthcare services. It also organises specialised health camps every month to provide advance secondary healthcare, where prominent local and international doctors volunteer their time to perform medical surgeries at the hospital.
The EFH has a specialised paediatric chamber and specialised women’s healthcare unit. These units also serve anti-natal care, post-natal care, general gynaecology, family planning and obstetrics. The EFH is automated by hospital management system software developed by Friendship and equipped with chambers for doctors, primary healthcare facilities, two operating theatres, two eight-bed wards, paediatric and gynaecology units, a dental room, a pathological laboratory, an X-ray room and an ophthalmic room. A dispensary onboard distributes free medicine to patients. The ship can accommodate up to 24 staff and eight visiting doctors. The deck of the ship can house 30 to 40 patients in emergencies.
EFH also provides secondary healthcare services, which include regular dental, eye, ENT, pathology, radiology and referral services. The EFH is equipped with modern medical equipment, a specialised operation theatre and postoperative ward.