A lifebuoy for the poor
They return happy after free treatment.
The hospital provides free medical service in distant and inaccessible shoal areas where poor people are deprived of such facilities.
The 145-feet vessel was donated by the Hospital Association of France for charitable medical services in shoal areas of Bangladesh. It was commissioned in 1995 and inaugurated by Mother Teresa.
The hospital began its service in Narayanganj in 2001. Since then, it is drifting on rivers, anchoring at different places.
"Arranging funds to keep the hospital running is our major problem", its Executive Director Runa Khan told this correspondent during a recent visit.
"Our annual budget is Tk 80 to 85 lakh. We are raising funds from individuals and organisations".
The Lever Brothers (Bangladesh) Ltd and the Friendship Hospital are jointly funding the only floating hospital in Bangladesh.
There are two full time MBBS doctors on the vessel and efforts are on for another doctor, she said.
The two doctors have to attend up to 200 patients daily.
"We call specialist doctors from Dhaka after every 15 days for treatment of critical patients who need surgery. The specialist doctors give voluntarily service, said a doctor.
The hospital authorities also run free satellite clinics in distant shoal areas.
They also give the people knowledge about primary healthcare.
Dr Feroza Khatun attends patients at one such satellite clinic at remote Khamar Bashpata in Ashtomir Char in Kurigram, about 10 kilometres from the floating hospital.
"People of the area eagerly look forward for our arrival," said Dr Feroza.
Appreciating the services, Abdur Razzak said, "I have no language to tell you what they (the floating hospital) are doing".
Carpenter Kabir of Gideri village in Gaibandha Sadar had a cleft-lip operation at the hospital. "I am very greatful to them", he said.
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