"While providing oxygen cylinders during the pandemic, we found out that people face critical health hazards and even death stemming from minor health issues like fever, cold, diarrhea, and the list goes on. To address the first aid inadequacy amongst the people of rural communities, our SOS programme conducted research and decided to deploy first aid kits," stated Dr Yeasir Iftekhar, the project coordinator of Shushasther Odhikar Shobar (SOS) of Footsteps Bangladesh.
SOS, a health programme of Footsteps Bangladesh, started its journey in September 2021 by responding to the oxygen demand in rural areas and distributing oxygen cylinders. The programme works to ensure effective and affordable primary healthcare services through deployment programmes, training sessions, and other social ventures.
There is a severe shortage of medical supplies, physicians, and even hospitals or medical centers in rural areas of Bangladesh. To get to the nearby health facility or clinic, most families must travel for miles and hours simply to see a doctor who may or may not be available. Due to these adverse scenarios, many families forgo medical care and treat their loved ones with subpar medical alternatives, which may lead to even the most minor illnesses, such as cold, being life-threatening.
SOS has stepped forward to ensure the availability of first aid kits in the households so that they can respond to minor injuries or preventable illnesses. The SOS Medical Box, having Xpress Pharma as the medical partner, consists of 24 essential medical components. Recently, through a deployment programme in Mirpur, Kushtia, SOS has facilitated 200 families with medical boxes.
Moreover, awareness building and extensive training on how to utilise each component of the box and basic healthcare has been conducted. The changemakers volunteered the deployment programme successfully. A well-explained guideline was provided with each of the boxes for the convenience of the households. The medical box has medicines and tools as first aids for sprain, cut, burn, cold, cough, fever, gastritis, stomach ache, headache, diarrhea, dehydration, and many other health issues.
"I did not have the money to take my youngest to a hospital when she got a serious leg injury. We didn't know what to do and took her to a neighbour who applied pastes. Initially, it looked fine, but it turned into a critical infection and after months we had to terminate her leg. Having a medical box back then could save my daughter's leg," said Ms Shikha to one of the volunteers during the deployment. Many more stories of losses and miseries overwhelmed the team.
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