Digital Healthcare hands with USAID to provide health services for marginalised community

Digital Healthcare Solutions, a social business committed to ensuring 'Health for All', has partnered with the initiative of USAID's MaMoni Maternal and Newborn Care Strengthening Project: Emergency Response to Covid-19 Pandemic.

Save the Children is implementing the project in association with factories under BEPZA and BGMEA to provide 150,000 marginalized people, including the RMG workers and slum dwellers with health services in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Narsingdi districts.

Started on 1 February, the project is providing free doctor consultations along with the free Shurokkhito package with up to Tk20,000 free health cashback.

Under this project, digital doctor booths have been set up at seven factories in Dhaka and its surrounding districts like Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Narsingdi.

RMG workers of these factories will now be able to consult with specialist doctors of Gynecology, Pediatrics, Dermatology, and Psychology for themselves and their families via video calls, free of cost.

Apart from this, a total of 41 day-long health camps with MBBS doctors will also be set up in various RMG factories and slums where people of the surrounding areas will be able to directly consult with the doctors regarding various health-related issues.

Furthermore, the 150,000 people will also be registered under the Shurokkhito package for free, where they will have the 24/7 access to doctor calling via 08 000 111 000 (toll-free) apart from doctor video calls through the Digital Hospital app, free health cashback up to Tk 20,000 and free life insurance of Tk10,000 for 3 months.

Commenting on the issue, Andrew Smith, CCO of Digital Healthcare Solutions said, "The readymade garment sector in Bangladesh is a huge part of the economy and society – the largest export driver, and largest employer of women."

"We are proud to support this great initiative from USAID and Save the Children, in Partnership with BGMEA and BEPZA, to provide a comprehensive package of healthcare support to RMG workers, and to mothers and families in urban slums."

Dr. Umme Salma Jahan Meena, chief of party, USAID's MaMoni MNCSP says, "Given the current challenges in accessing essential healthcare services, we felt that this intervention was much needed. We have been working in the maternal and newborn healthcare sector for quite some time and our data says, people are hesitant to visit healthcare centers fearing contraction of Covid-19 virus. This is leading to a decline in women's health specially if they are pregnant and/or new mothers. Equally, additional costs incurred when someone is affected by COVID-19 virus also takes a toll on their already impacted financial situation. By introducing micro health schemes and online doctors' consultation services, we hope to make healthcare services accessible and affordable for all."