“Jibon Tari” supporting healthcare services for decades to marginal riverside people

Impact Foundation Bangladesh (IFB), a private organisation, has been running a floating hospital to offer specific healthcare services to poor and marginal people in riverside areas. The floating hospital named “Jibon Tari” is equipped with modern medical and surgical equipment. It has been providing healthcare services, like health check-ups, services for eyes, ENT, orthopaedics and physical deformity to the disadvantaged population since 1999.
Reportedly, this floating hospital by now has served patients in 32 locations in 22 districts. Seven lakh patients have availed medical services and more than 50,000 patients have undergone surgeries. This floating hospital has been sailing through the major rivers of the country, making efforts to make healthcare accessible to rural citizens, as they are more or less deprived of healthcare services. The CEO of the foundation, Dr Hasib Mahmud, told the media, “The lifespan of floating hospitals is usually 30 years. We have to get our vessel’s clearance renewed from Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation every year after the authority performs a thorough fitness check.”
 According to sources, the floating hospital has two operation theatres where orthopaedic, general and plastic surgery are performed. Even during the pandemic, the hospital provided medical services and ran awareness campaigns on Covid-19. In the last two decades, many foreign surgeons from the hospital’s donor agencies have visited the hospital to provide training to the local health providers and developed a system with protocols for quality treatment and care at the hospital. It also trains school teachers on how to conduct basic eye check-ups on students and train community leaders.
Almost 23 years, Jibon Tari has been running this services but its great challenge ahead is to find a way out to continue the healthcare services after the next seven years. However, those involved in this hospital hope to float a new vessel through donors, since they know the demand for their services are moving high. We hope Jibon Tari’s dedicated services will be highly beneficial for the riverside marginal people.