Cyclone Mocha Pummels Bangladesh Coastline, Causes Extensive Damage
Cyclone Mocha pummelled the coastline of Bangladesh on the night of Sunday, May 14, 2023, wreaking widespread destruction. The violent storm left its mark on a staggering 2,548 shelters across 33 Rohingya refugee camps in the Ukhiya and Teknaf Upazilas of Cox's Bazar. This resulted in the complete annihilation of approximately 278 residences.
According to an official report from the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner's Office, issued on the same day, 1,611 Rohingya refugees have been impacted, with seven injuries reported. Balukhali Camp 9 in Ukhiya bore the brunt of the storm, witnessing damage to around 485 shelters. In a preemptive move to ensure the safety of the Rohingya refugees, 3,031 individuals were relocated owing to the impending threat of landslides and torrential rain brought on by the cyclone. The HAEFA Health Post, a crucial healthcare facility in Balukhali Camp 09, also suffered considerable damage during the calamity.
We remain steadfast in our efforts to address immediate needs and assist those impacted in navigating the aftermath of this tragic event. Our team is engaged in a thorough assessment of the damage to facilitate quick repairs. Our medical personnel are working tirelessly to provide crucial aid and support to the Rohingya refugees affected by this disaster.
Embers and Ashes: Rohingya Refugees Confront Devastating Fire Incident
In this edition of our newsletter, we bring you a poignant video that offers a window into the trials faced by Rohingya refugees following a catastrophic fire in March 2023. Our dedicated team members were at the epicenter of this crisis, providing crucial medical aid and logistical support and capturing the stories and urgent needs of those affected.
On the 5th of March, 2023, a ferocious inferno decimated the Balukhali camp in Ukhiya, within the Cox's Bazar district of Bangladesh. This resulted in a staggering 12,000 displaced Rohingya individuals left without the security of their homes. Responding swiftly to this crisis, members of HAEFA launched into action to treat burn victims and spearhead the reconstruction of destroyed shelters. In the wake of the fire, nearly 2,000 shelters were laid to waste, including mosques, health centers, and schools.
We implore you to watch, engage with, and share this video, amplifying awareness and garnering support for the Rohingya community during this trying period. Together, we can forge a profound difference!
Link: https://youtu.be/D9emi6cqU54
May 2023 Update: HAEFA's Comprehensive Healthcare Services in Bangladesh
Health and Education have provided the following healthcare services and initiatives for All (HAEFA) across Bangladesh:
Between November 2019 and April 2023, HAEFA screened 65,543 women (aged 30-60 years) for early-stage cervical cancer across nine Upazilas in Kurigram.
From July 2021 to April 2023, 43,506 women (aged 30-60 years) in six Upazilas of Cox's Bazar were screened for early-stage cervical cancer.
HAEFA extended free medical care to 272,728 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals in Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar, between October 2017 and April 2023.
In Bhashan Char, Noakhali, 49,425 Rohingya refugees and local Bangladeshis on the island have received free medical care since November 2020.
Since 2022, more than 4,000 Bangladeshi nationals in Ukhiya have benefited from free medical services provided by HAEFA's Mobile Medical Clinics.
HAEFA's NCD-based Path Lab in camps 09 and 1w performed 10,320 diagnostic lab tests since January 2022.
In partnership with Project HOPE, over 6,000 healthcare providers underwent Mental Health Support and Resilience Training as part of the Train the Trainer (ToT) program.
An Advanced COVID-19 Clinical Management Certification course, jointly offered with DGHS, Brown University CHRHS, Project HOPE, USAID, and SCiB, has trained more than 3,000 physicians online via the DGHS, MoHFW website.
From 2019 to date, more than 40 students (grades six through twelve) from Bhawal Mirzapur Hazi Jamir Uddin School And College have been awarded annual merit scholarships. This initiative is a collaboration between HAEFA and the M A Malek Education Scholarship Foundation.
HAEFA's Unwavering Commitment: Comprehensive Healthcare for the Rohingya FDMN/Refugees
Since its inception in October 2017, HAEFA's dedicated healthcare professionals have unwaveringly provided complimentary medical care and medications to the Rohingya FDMNs. In April 2023 alone, we extended free healthcare and diagnostic services to over 5,020 individuals.
At Kutupalong (Camp 1W):
A total of 2,249 patients benefited from comprehensive healthcare services.
HAEFA's semi-automated NCD Pathological Laboratory performed 131 laboratory tests.
At Balukhali (Camp 09):
More than 1,494 patients received healthcare services.
Our semi-automated NCD Pathological Laboratory carried out 202 laboratory tests.
At the FDMN Rohingya Camp in Bhashan Char:
More than 1,285 patients availed themselves of the HAEFA Medical Check-Up and Treatment services.
HAEFA's Vigilant Efforts in Cervical Cancer Screening and Intervention
In the Kurigram District, HAEFA's vigilant initiative has empowered more than 680 women with cervical cancer screenings conducted at the Upazila Health Complexes (UHCs). Initial screenings revealed sixteen VIA-positive cases, leading to immediate referrals for comprehensive investigations and subsequent treatment.
In April 2023, HAEFA expanded its efforts to seven VIA centers (Sadar Hospital, MCWC, Ramu UHC, Moheshkhali UHC, Chakaria UHC, Pekua UHC, and Kutubdia UHC), conducting screenings for over 620 women. Fourteen cases tested positive during the initial VIA screening, prompting immediate referrals for detailed examination.
The team further coordinated a series of colposcopies at Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, resulting in eleven colposcopies and four thermocoagulations. Not losing sight of those already identified, the Cox's Bazar Project team maintained continuous follow-ups with previous cancer patients, facilitating their referrals to Chattogram Medical College and the National Institute of Cancer Research & Hospital (NICRH), Mohakhali, Dhaka, for advanced treatment and care.
HAEFA Newsletter Editorial Board
Editor: Nairita Ahsan Faruqui
Associate Editor: Raihana Mehreen
Associate Editor: Dr. Kaniz Ferdouse Mou
Contributors of the May Newsletter:
Sajia Haque