The story of United Health Development Programme (UHDP), an initiative that provides medical transportation service to those in need, is an illustrious one. Innovation comes in its best form when it is generated from need. Osman A Arabi had one such need for innovation that was rooted in humanitarian cause. While the world is going through a cataclysmic time caused by Covid-19 pandemic, such altruist initiatives infuse hope among despondent souls.
Back in 2015, when Osman donated a kidney to his elder sister, he faced the hard reality that only few remain available during the time of crisis, especially health related ones. This realisation pushed him to ponder over the possibilities of initiating a non-profitable health related service. Since then he began to explore the existing problems in Bangladesh's healthcare system. What he came up with -- after years of observation-- it was a unique one and worth trying.
There are numerous people in Bangladesh who by themselves cannot reach hospitals or access healthcare facilities. "Though there exists a good number of joint families in Bangladesh, there remains a significant number of nuclear families and alienated people," said Osman about his primary observation. These people sometime face difficulty in accessing healthcare facilities. Either they lack proper knowledge of how to access those facilities or they simply do not have anybody to take them to hospital. Osman made up his mind to help this section.
Volunteers working for UHDP
Like Uber or Pathao's ride sharing service, Osman's idea could be termed as 'assistance sharing.' His vision was to introduce such a service that would assist people in getting admitted to hospitals who cannot do it by themselves. This vision gave birth to UHDP in October last year. About 10 more vigorous youths joined hand with Osman in materialising the idea. Their core idea was to launch an app through which solitary and helpless people could contact UHDP for help.
There are countless people everywhere willing to spread helping hand towards the needy. UHDP's app will bring them under a single network. Those seeking help will be able to find all the volunteers within their own area in a single app and ask for help. Launching of the app was scheduled shortly as UHDP team was preparing for a formal press briefing to announce the commencement of their initiative with Mehjabin Chowdhury and Tanjin Tisha as their goodwill ambassador.
However, Covid-19 has delayed the formal launch for uncertain time but at the same time, made way for bigger opportunity of humanitarian work. During this critical period when people are left ostracised upon showing slightest symptoms of Covid, the team UHDP is rescuing them and taking them to hospitals. They decided not to wait and begin their service via Facebook."When the time comes, we should begin with whatever we have," said Osman about their initiation without the app. Around 450 volunteers across 64 districts are now working day and night to respond to the distress calls. These volunteers are recruited via Facebook posts where people are convened to work as voluntarily. Among the interested ones, those with some previous experience are taken.
Usually UHDP does not charge the patient for their service, except for the ambulance rent. However, if the patient is too poor, UHDP carries transportation expense too. Their Facebook posts have helped them gather a small fund which is used for this purpose. Till the app is launched, people can reach them through Facebook and their hotline number -- 01877977100. There will be separate hotline numbers for each division soon. Those willing to be volunteer can reach them through this mail UHDPBD@gmail.com.
As UHDP operates as a non-profit organisation, it needs some generous economic support to enhance its operation. UHDP plans to train their volunteers on basic primary treatments so that the patients get more assistance while being taken to hospitals. If supported economically, they also plan to arrange artificial plastic hands/legs to those who have lost them and cannot afford to do it by themselves.
Osman and the whole team dream to establish a sustainable system that will be part of Bangladesh's healthcare system. As for now, UHDP has proved its non-profitable altruist character by working heart and soul amid the ongoing epidemic crisis.
The writer is an MSS student of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University. He can be reached at
msislam8686@gmail.com