A healthcare clinic with a difference

A physician attends a female patient at a clinic of the Family Planning Association of Bangladesh (FPAB) in Patuakhali. Poor patients, specially women and children flock the clinic on all weekly working days in large number in a hope of better treatment. PHOTO: STAR

Since its inception in 1981, the clinic rendered healthcare services to 80,000 patients till date. It was set up on a land donated by Patuakhali municipality on the College Road in the town.

Because of its unique service, it was selected as the best NGO in Barisal division in 2000-'01 fiscal.

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Md Selim, District Project Officer of FPAB said to this correspondent the clinic has modern equipment where poor people specially women and children can get heathcare services. A physician trained in women and child diseases attends patients regularly.

'Anybody can get treatment from this clinic by paying only Tk 20 as registration fee', according to Dr Tahmina Khanam Siddiqa, Medical Officer of the FPAB. Medical tests of urine, stool and blood pressure are done without any cost, she added.

Poor patients also get medicine free of cost from here.

Since 1981, about 23,787 married couples adopted various birth control methods, according to the physician.

The organisation is being run by a 15-member executive committee. About 15 officials and workers conduct the activities of the organisation while 102 workers work here on voluntary basis under the project.