ICRC ties up with government to improve Rohingya-burdened Cox’s Bazar heath facility

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding or MoU with the health ministry to support the emergency department of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital.

The ICRC will work with the hospital management and ministry to improve the quality of service in the emergency department, available to both host and displaced populations from Myanmar.

About 700,000 Rohingyas from the Rakhine State have taken shelter in Cox’s Bazar since August last year fleeing ‘ethnic cleansing’.

Together with the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), the ICRC has been supporting the two health complexes in Ukhiya and Teknaf with human resources, waste management training sessions and medical supplies since 2014.

ICRC said the fresh influx from Myanmar has added to the health-care needs of both the displaced and host communities, for which the ICRC along with the BDRCS provide medical services through mobile health teams in Cox’s Bazar and in border areas like Konarpara.

With the new MoU, it will further bring in expertise in training emergency physicians and nurses to provide quality of care to the patient using standardised guidelines.

The total cost of the three-year project is estimated at Tk 110.24 million.

ICRC support to the emergency department would provide a comprehensive package of services including infrastructure rehabilitation, material and medical equipment support, capacity building and emergency response.

ICRC plans to renovate the existing department while a temporary emergency department will be established during the time so that people can still avail emergency services.

The ICRC will also provide the necessary equipment, furniture and medical supplies while it will provide specialist emergency department trainers to work with the staff in the department.

It further plans to work with the hospital authorities on management of mass casualty plan and referral systems.