Creating awareness about neem tree

Plan International, an international NGO organised the development fair at Jaldhaka upazila ground to exhibit people its achievements in health, agricultural, educational and environmental sectors.

In the fair, people became aware about the versatile tree and its fascinating story in treatment of various diseases.

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Modern day uses of various parts of the wonder tree has created a great enthusiasm among the people. There were altogether 12 stalls in the fair.

Plan International, in collaboration with its partner organisation, Lamb, has been using the bark, seeds, leaves, fruit, gum and oils for dozens of internal and external medical treatments.

Plan International community health co-ordinator Dr Razzaqul Alam told this correspondent that Neem treatment is being implemented through eight rural community clinics and two satellite clinics.

Lamb field co-ordinator Ronald Barman said to this correspondent they are using neem leaves, roots, seeds and oil widely as antiseptic, insecticide, blood purifier and pain reliever. It is also used in treatment of skin diseases, scabies, eczema, high fever, critical wounds and pox. He said the most common historical uses of neem were for treatment of skin diseases. In conclusion, he said Neem tree has enormous potential to benefit entire mankind.

To popularise Neem as herbal medicine, Plan has prepared a list of rural physicians (Kabiraj).

Kabiraj Alimuddin said he had treated hundreds of patients with jaat neem. The chairman of Koimari union under Jaldhaka upazila said that people are now planting jaat neem trees in greater number.

In the fair, there was a stall of school dropout children of 12-18 age group. They produced candles, book-binding wooden furniture, small engineering items, block, butique and other things which they produced after taking technical training from Plan International in co-operation with local NGO, CMES.

However, the most attractive stall was the agricultural stall where different high breed vegetables and mushroom were displayed. Farmers produced those following the crops diversification, anti-tobacco campaigns. A 38 kg sweet gourd, 47 inches pumpkin, 4 kg cucumber gave much pleasure to the visitors. The stall was always full of crowd. Local NGO, Brif is implementing the agricultural programme of Plan International. Brif project co-ordinator Shahidul Islam Robin said the programme has changed the agricultural pattern in Jaldhaka upazila.

Twelve stalls were erected to make people aware about sanitation, education and agriculture.

While addressing as the chief guest, Nilphamari Deputy Commissioner (DC) Robindra Nath Roy Chowdhury said Plan is co-operating to government to achieve the millenium goal.

In his presidential address, Plan country director Edward Thomas Espay said Plan is working in 10 developed and 46 developing countries in the Carribean and Scandinavian countries besides the continents of Asia and Europe. Plan International is working in three unions of the upazila with other partners since 1996.

Mentionably, Neem tree has been dubbed by the United Nations (UN) as the "tree of the 21st century."