Feed 150 hospital patients in Bangladesh

Please find attached our latest newsletter

Cleft Palate Repair Mission

Cleft lips and palates are repairable conditions. Unfortunately, many in the developing world have limited access to health care and are not often aware that treatment options

are available.

In November, Smile Bangladesh, a New Jersey based organization and partner of Hope Foundation

went to Hope Hospital in Cox’s Bazar and per-formed 48 cleft surgeries.

All surgeries were done free of cost.

In addition to surgery, these patients will receive follow-up care and rehabilitation.

The team included:

• Dr. Shahid Aziz, team leader, surgeon

• Dr. Sam Rhee, surgeon

• Dr. Sameer Jejurikar, surgeon

• Dr. Joel Dragoo, surgeon

• Dr. Mohammed Erakat, surgeon

• Dr. Imre Redai, anesthesia

• Dr. Jesse Raiten, anesthesia

• Dr. Stephanie Black, anesthesia

• Ms. Sue Walsh, nursing

• Dr. Angela F Haczku

• Mr. Christopher Walsh, assistant

• Mr. Bruce Byers, asst. photojournalist

Ashley Williams Raises Funds

After visiting Hope Foundation sites in Bangladesh earlier this year, Ashley Williams has committed to

raise awareness and funds for women suffering from uterine prolapse. This is a condition in which the uterus slips out of place into or through the genitalia. It can occur in women of all ages, but is

especially common in those who have delivered large babies or have had a prolonged labor and multiple

pregnancies.

Ashley organized a dinner in Hollywood to share her experiences in Bangladesh as well as the stories of

the people she met. Her goal is to raise enough funds to cover treatment for the first 16 patients.

Ashley has raised almost $6,000 so far as a result of her hard work.

The first uterine prolapse surgery successfully took place on October 30th, and more surgeries are to

follow.

Obstetric Fistula Project

Hope Foundation is pleased to announce that a fistula surgery and education project grant has been

approved by The Fistula Foundation, USA. This grant will help to relieve the silent suffering of many

women who are suffering due to injuries during labor and delivery. Most of those injuries could be

prevented with education and treatment.

Obstetric Fistula is a condition in which a hole develops between the vagina and either the rectum

or the bladder. Incontinence is often a symptom, which can result in social stigma and psychological

damage. While fistula is rare in the West, it persists in developing countries, especially among young

and poor women. Fistula is typically caused by an obstructed labor when there is no access to good maternity care and caesarian section facilities.

Partnerships

Mohamed Masud Hasan, a Hope Foundation Director, traveled from Florida and visited Hope Hospital in Cox’s Bazar on November 8^th.  He met and exchanged views with the hospital administration team, doctors and other staff. Mr. Hasan also spent time with cleft patients and their families who were eagerly awaiting the US Cleft Surgery team.

Barry University

On November 11th, Dr. Mahmoood gave a presentation to Biomedical Society students at

Barry University in Florida sharing the Hope Foundation’s work in rural areas of Bangladesh.

Dr. Mahmood encouraged students to

volunteer. These students, led by Jacky Akhter, were active in hosting Hope Foundation stalls at many

community events last year. Many students signed up to volunteer with Hope Foundation.

Physical Therapy at Cox’s Bazar Hospital

On November 15th, KDM therapists, Prof. Aminuddin Khan and Mr. Mahmudul Hasan visited Cox's

Bazar Hospital for Women and Children. Ms. Lorene and Mr. Francois, physical therapists of

KDM, have committed to providing rehabilitation therapy at the hospital every week.

10 beds have been set aside for use by these therapists.

Physical therapy is desperately needed in the hospital since most therapy is only available in

the capital city -too far for poor disabled and paralyzed villagers in Cox's Bazar.

The therapists from KDM will train staff at the hospital in physical therapy and rehabilitation

so that these staff members will be able to serve the other Hope Centers in Bangladesh.

Professor Aminuddin Khan is head of the Department of Physical Medicine, and Vice Principal,

Chittagong Medical College.

Prof. Khan has committed to visit the hospital every two months to supervise the project.

The KDM therapists will visit the hospital for their first session

on November 26th.

This project is a result of a collaboration between KDM, Hope Foundation

and NURTURE, a charitable hospital in Chittagong, Bangladesh helping the disabled.

Global Nomads 

During the month of November, the student organization Global Nomads at the University of

Florida are raising money for pregnant women in Bangladesh who do not have sufficient funds for

appropriate medical care. Each $50 provides one woman with checkups, a hospital delivery,

neonatal care, and child care education through the Hope Foundation. Global Nomads hope to raise

funds for at least 100 pregnancies.

Call for Volunteers-Medical Volunteers Needed

Hope Foundation is seeking physicians and medical volunteers to serve in its 40 bed nonprofit hospital

in Cox’s Bazar, a seaside town in southern Bangladesh.

The hospital needs physicians of all specialties and other experienced allied health professionals such as

physical, occupation and speech therapists, and other health professionals. 

Volunteer will bear their own costs but Hope Foundation will consider providing housing

and ground transportation based on the availability of funds. 

Criteria:

• A minimum of 2 weeks commitment is required

• Must be a qualified physician or other health professional

• Each volunteer must be financially independent to include accommodation and transport

• The minimum cost per stay is about US$ 1000 monthly

• The applying volunteer must speak English proficiently

• Each volunteer will submit copies of:

• Curriculum vitae

• Certificate of degree and specialization

• Certificate of registration in native country

• Two passport size photographs Program

Details:

• Office hours will be from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm

• The physician may also participate in weekend coverage but is not required to be in the office.

• Scheduling is flexible so each physician will have some free time for traveling.

• At the end the Volunteer Physician will be issued with a Certificate and a letter confirming their

participation in the program. Medical professionals of all specialties are welcome.

 For more information, contact Iftikher Mahmood, MD at

iumahmood@gmail.com or 1-305-318 0142

• Nov/Dec Newsletter (PDF)
  

Cox's Bazar Hospital for Women and Children is in need of facilities to feed the staff and patients at the hospital. In Bangladesh, patients usually rely on family coming in daily with each meal since hospitals rarely supply meals. This is a problem in many aspects, the proper diet and nutrition needs may not be taken into account, and also this causes immense burden for the poor patients whose family can scarcely afford to travel 3 times a day into the hospital to deliver food.

With the help of generous local donors, a temporary cafeteria is planned to be built on the hospital grounds. This will help to provide nutritious, appropriate and cheap foods to hospital staff and patients. Poor patients will be given free food from the funds raised by this project.