The Hunger Project (THP) -- a global non-profit organization that works for hunger eradication in South Asia, Latin America, and Africa -- is working towards building community resilience in around 1,500 Bangladeshi villages to fight Covid-19.
An online discussion titled “Coronavirus Resilient Villages: Interactions with Community Volunteers” was held in this regard by THP-Bangladesh on Thursday, said a press release.
The discussion was moderated by THP-Bangladesh Country Director Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, who is also the global vice-president of the organization.
Among others, former chief secretary to the prime minister Abul Kalam Azad, former director of Brac and Director of Bangladesh Health Watch Dr Mushtaq Reza Chowdhury, an adviser to the Institute of Culture and Development Research (ICDR) Mushtaq Hossain, senior public health expert and government-appointed health official Abu Jamil Faisal, WHO Regional Director Mejharul Haque, Senior Officer at Brac Mr Akramul Islam, and founder and CEO of mPower Social Enterprises Mridul Chowdhury took part in the view-exchange meeting.
During the meeting, the THP-Bangladesh volunteers, working in different parts of the country, shared their experiences with everyone.
Dr Badiul Alam Majumder said: “We couldn’t control the spread of coronavirus in some of the hotspots. As a result of that, community transmission started across the country.
“We don’t have any recognized or approved treatments for this disease. No vaccine has been discovered yet. Experts are not yet sure when a vaccine will be available. So, we have to coexist with this virus and have to become coronavirus resilient.”
Mentioning that the volunteers of THP-Bangladesh are working in around 1,500 villages to build Covid-19 resilient villages, he said: “Our volunteers are creating awareness among the general people. They are helping to isolate the suspected patients and are also making arrangements for their treatment.
“Besides, by creating a list of those who are now unemployed and helpless, the volunteers are helping the government to bring these people under the social safety net.”
He mentioned that THP-Bangladesh volunteers are collecting money from the rich and distributing it among the poor amid this crisis.
Echoing the same, Mushtaq Hossain, an adviser to the Institute of Culture and Development Research (ICDR), said: “If communities are not engaged and brought together, police alone cannot win the fight against coronavirus.”
He called upon the government to come forward to implement this initiative taken by THP-Bangladesh in the country’s urban areas as well.
Moreover, according to public health expert Dr Abu Faisal, it is not possible to effectively combat Covid-19 without involving the community in a voluntary initiative.
Mr Akramul Islam, a senior official at Brac, also emphasized the importance of expanding such initiative of community engagement and voluntary involvement across the country.
Meanwhile, Mridul Chowdhury, the founder and CEO of mPower Social Enterprises, said: “The experiences shared by the volunteer are very inspiring for me. The fact that they are doing this voluntarily during these difficult times really deserves all our praise.”
He promised to play a role in bringing the works of the volunteers to the attention of the government.
According to Mahrukh Mohiuddin, the work and contribution of the volunteers is unprecedented and heartwarming.