Dr Zafrullah Dr Zafrullah on life support

Staff Reporter :
Veteran freedom fighter and Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury has now been put on life support as his health condition deteriorated while he was undergoing treatment at the city’s Gonoshasthaya Kendra Nagar Hospital.
According to a statement issued by the Gonoshasthaya Kendra, Dr Zafrullah was transferred to life support on Monday at about 10:30am.
Quoting Professor Mamun Mustafi, head of the Gonoshasthaya Samaj Vittik Medical College Nephrology Department, Gonoshasthaya Kendra Press Adviser Jahangir Alam Mintu said that a medical board was working to ensure his healthcare at the hospital.
Dr Zafrullah has been suffering from kidney complications for a long time. He has also been suffering from old age complications. Meanwhile, COAST Foundation Executive Committee wishes for early recovery of Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury.
In a statement COAST Foundation describes Dr Zafrullah’s active role in the development of National Drug Policy, 1982. For excellent contribution in family planning, he received an Independence Award in 1977. Apart from this, he was awarded as Ramon Magsaysay award from Philippines in 1985, Right Livelihood award from Sweden in 1992, International Health Hero from Barkley University, USA in 2002 and Ahmed Sharif Award in 2021. He also awarded the honorary doctorate degree from Canada for his outstanding humanitarian services, the statement read.
He worked for the disadvantaged people in society and is active for human rights, democracy, social justice, and other issues in the country. He leads an ordinary life.
Dr Zafrullah is a well-known Bangladeshi physician and public health activist. He received his medical degree from Dhaka Medical College in 1966 and later received a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University in the United States.
He was in surgical training in London when the liberation war of Bangladesh erupted in 1971. Hurrying home, he established a field hospital with his colleagues to treat battle casualties.
In 1972, he founded Gonoshasthaya Kendra with the aim of providing healthcare services to underserved communities in Bangladesh.
In 1985, he won Ramon Magsaysay Award in the Community Leadership category for “engineering” Bangladesh’s new drug policy, eliminating unnecessary pharmaceuticals, and making comprehensive medical care more available to ordinary citizens.
Dr Zafrullah has also been involved in various other social and political activities throughout his life and advocated for human rights, democracy, and social justice in Bangladesh. He has received numerous awards and honours for his contributions to public health and social welfare.