Bangladesh Refugee Health Center

Project Progress Report

Bangladesh Primary Health Care Programme

Reporting Period 01/03/2026 to 01/08/2026

Project Overview

Document Title:

Project Progress Report

Project Title:

Bangladesh Primary Health Care Programme

Project Owner:

Doctors Worldwide Türkiye / Yeryüzü Doktorlar Dernegi

Sensitivity:

Public

Project Summary

Bangladesh continues to host one of the largest and most protracted displacement situations in the world. Now in its ninth year, the Rohingya refugee crisis has left more than 1.3 million refugees sheltered in the congested camps of Cox's Bazar and on Bhasan Char, alongside Bangladeshi host communities in Ukhiya and Teknaf whose own services and livelihoods remain under sustained pressure. The 2026 Joint Response Plan, led by the Government of Bangladesh together with the United Nations and 98 partner organisations, seeks USD 710.5 million to reach 1.6 million people; the appeal is 26 per cent lower than the previous year and covers only the minimum required to sustain lifesaving assistance.

The operating environment has deteriorated further as humanitarian funding contracts. Conditions in the camps remain dire, refugees remain almost entirely dependent on external assistance for their basic needs, and the arrival of some 150,000 newly displaced Rohingya since early 2024 has placed additional strain on already overstretched services. Bangladesh is at the same time among the countries most exposed to climate-related hazards; recurrent monsoon flooding, landslides and cyclones periodically damage shelter, water and health infrastructure and interrupt access to essential services. Within this context, primary health care and nutrition services remain a critical and consistently underfunded priority.

Yeryüzü Doktorlar delivers primary health care services in Bangladesh through a team of 11 staff, providing outpatient consultations and medicine and medical supply support to refugees and vulnerable host community members. During the current reporting period, the scope of the programme was expanded through the introduction of nutrition services, comprising nutrition screening and nutrition treatment for mothers and children, together with basic nutrition education sessions for mothers.

Achievements and Impact

During the March to July period, primary health care services were delivered continuously, and nutrition services were introduced as a new component of the programme from May onwards.

In March, a total of 1,624 outpatient consultation sessions were conducted, and 20,922 packages of medicines and medical supplies were distributed to 1,624 individuals.

In April, a total of 1,982 outpatient consultation sessions were recorded, and 31,965 packages of medicines and medical supplies were provided to 1,982 individuals.

In May, 1,597 outpatient consultation sessions were conducted, and 2,482 packages of medicines and medical supplies were distributed to 1,597 individuals. Nutrition services commenced during this month: 387 nutrition screening sessions were carried out, comprising 362 screenings for mothers and 25 screenings for children, while 34 individuals received nutrition treatment, including 24 mothers and 10 children. In addition, 40 mothers participated in basic nutrition education sessions.

In June, a total of 2,051 outpatient consultation sessions were recorded, and 32,201 packages of medicines and medical supplies were provided to 2,051 individuals. Nutrition screening was delivered through 610 sessions, comprising 134 screenings for mothers and 476 screenings for children, and 41 individuals received nutrition treatment, including 31 mothers and 10 children. Basic nutrition education sessions reached a further 50 mothers.

In July, 2,160 outpatient consultation sessions were conducted, and 28,251 packages of medicines and medical supplies were distributed to 2,160 individuals. A total of 496 nutrition screening sessions were carried out, comprising 105 screenings for mothers and 391 screenings for children, while 38 individuals received nutrition treatment, including 7 mothers and 31 children. Basic nutrition education sessions were provided to 60 mothers.

Over the March to July period, a total of 9,414 outpatient consultation sessions were conducted and 115,821 packages of medicines and medical supplies were distributed to 9,414 individuals. Since their introduction in May, nutrition services have delivered 1,493 screening sessions, comprising 601 screenings for mothers and 892 screenings for children, and 113 individuals have received nutrition treatment, comprising 62 mothers and 51 children. A total of 150 mothers have participated in basic nutrition education sessions. Cumulatively, the programme has delivered 13,010 outpatient consultation sessions and distributed 167,363 packages of medicines and medical supplies since the beginning of 2026.

Conclusion

Between March and July, the Bangladesh Primary Health Care Programme sustained the delivery of outpatient consultations and medicine and medical supply support, while successfully expanding into nutrition screening, nutrition treatment and basic nutrition education. Monthly consultation figures remained stable throughout the period and increased towards its end, indicating consistent community access to services and continuing demand. The introduction of nutrition services from May onwards has strengthened the programme's ability to identify and respond to acute nutritional needs among mothers and children, with a marked increase in child screening coverage from June. These results underline the programme's operational capacity to maintain essential health services in a contracting funding environment and to broaden its response in line with the identified needs of refugee and host communities.