UNWA Project Fair and Monthly Meeting

by Minoli de Soysa 
Photos by Yuko and Tazeen

This year’s project fair, organized by UNWA’s welfare committee, was held on February 19 at Minoli de Soysa’s house in Gulshan, along with the monthly meeting. Minoli’s garden was beautifully decorated with a colourful blue and white shamiana and under it, tables were arranged for displaying handicrafts and information from the various projects supported by UNWA.

The projects that participated were: Assistance for Blind Children, Beth Merriam, Bottomley Home and Orphanage, Rehabilitation of Destitute Women, Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed, Green Herald Afternoon School, Ibrahim School, Mother and Child Integrated Welfare Organization, Participatory Development Action Programme, School of Hope (afternoon education) and Working Women’s Education Center health clinic. Two other NGOs also participated. The crafts for sale included embroidered table linen and bags, wooden and cloth toys, clothes, clay pottery, jute bags, paintings and glass vases.

Welfare Committee Chairman Anowara Ahmed welcomed the members and their guests to the project fair and said it gave a chance for the projects to exhibit their work and inform UNWA members of their activities.

After president Tazeen Rehman opened the fair, nominating committee chairman Liti Lissner told members of the status of nominations. She pointed out that all members would be eligible to vote at the AGM.

After that, Runa Marre described the work of the Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital, also known as the floating hospital. The project was started by Runa and her husband Yves, a French sailor, to provide medical care to poor people in remote areas often accessible only by boat.

The boat itself is an old river barge that was destined for the scrap heap in France. Yves Marre persuaded the government to give to him and then sailed it to Bangladesh, despite the fact that it was totally unsuitable for the open sea.

In Bangladesh, after many drawbacks and snags, the boat was refitted into a hospital with the help of Lever brothers. It now boasts an operating theatre, laboratory, pharmacy and gynaecological ward. The two doctors on board are able to see up to 100 patients a day. In remote areas visited by the floating hospital, some people have never seen a doctor.

Specialists from Dhaka visit regularly and difficult cases are flown to the capital for further treatment. The first open heart surgery on a child was performed this month. The project also provides primary health and hygiene education to bring about behavioural change.

The floating hospital, which began working in March last year, has benefited 35,847 patients so far. Runa said it costs about one million taka a year to keep it operational. Although they do have donors, any assistance is more than welcome. Runa can be contacted at ffh@dhaka.net.

After Runa’s talk, children from the School of Hope entertained the meeting with a medley of songs and tabla music. Refreshments were served. Many thanks to the Welfare Committee for organizing the project fair, which was greatly enjoyed by all those who attended.