Monthly Archives: January 2014

Healthcare Project in Korail Slum

Good Heal Trust’s outreach team is delighted to start off the year by giving medical treatment to a total of 500 patients! This is a great motivating factor for the team as GHT had started off with only 8 clinic patients and 0 camp patients when it first launched its outreach program back in May, 2013. A total of 399 patients were given service at the clinic and a total of 101 patients were given service at the camps. Two medical camps were held, one on the 8th and another on the 29th. The target diseases looked into for these camps were common diseases, pediatric/gynecological problems. Dr. Aynul Kabir  (from the Medicine Department) and Dr. Farhana Khatun (from the Gynecology Department) and  Dr. Farhana Rahat (from the Pediatric Department) provided us with their service during the camps.

Dr. Aynul Kabir did a brilliant job in consulting 18 patients for diseases ranging from common communicable diseases such as: pain In left arm, scabies, general weakness, trigger finger, osteoporosis, constipation, different body part aches, vertigo, anorexia, trauma, fever, diarrhea, leucorrhoea, common colds, Insomnia, anemia, numbness and tonsillitis. Some non-communicable diseases that were treated include: hypertension, heart problems, diabetic mellitus, bronchial asthma, peptic ulcer diseases and malnutrition amongst children.

Gynecologist Dr. Farhana Khatun has done an excellent job in consulting 23 female patients, ranging from 14 years of age to 55 years. She consulted them on the following medical issues: Gynecological Disorders such as dysparunia, lower abdominal pain, breast pain, itching of the vulva, Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), vaginitis, ovarian cyst, excessive white discharge, burning micturition in urine, excessive p/v bleeding, Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroglossal cyst, nonspecific lymphadenitis, repeated miscarriages, Poly menorrhea, irregular menstruation for DMPA and several other such diseases.

Similar to previous sessions, Good Heal Trust presented health awareness sessions twice a week on general health advice to patients of the Korail Slum. Advice pertaining to personal hygiene, family planning, common diseases amongst women, common diseases present in households and many other issues were discussed. Focus Group Discussions (FDGs) were held with 680 people within the slum. These sessions are especially helpful to the people living in the slum as most of them have not been educated regarding health care and its importance.

Good Heal Trust was also successful in referring patients Gulshan Seba House for different health tests, including under Radiology: USG (ultrasound) of the whole abdomen, USG (ultrasound) of the lower abdomen, Chest X-Ray P/V view, Chest X-Ray B/V view, ECG. Pathology: Urine R/E, FB, ABF.

Through Skype sessions, Dr.Apurba Kumar Saha, Dr.Aynul Kabir gave service to 11 patients.

In the camps, a total of 58 new patients registered as Good Heal Trust‘s registered patients. Two of them had already registered from before. Good Heal Trust provided a health card to each person. A mere Tk50 was charged as the card registration fee. Each card holder patient was also given a registration number. By showing this health card, a slum dweller can enjoy all the services offered by Good Heal Trust through its clinic. If a registered member needs any kind of pathological or radiology test, Good Heal Trust will provide the patient a 25 % discount. In addition, with the health card the patient receives a 50% discount on doctor visits.

The trust hopes to have a fulfilling and rewarding year up ahead, giving medical care and advice to those who need it the most.

Nurses’ Skill Enhancement Program

Good Heal Trust is pleased to have its Nurses Skill Enhancement Program (NSEP) start at Birdem. An orientation was held on 27^th January for the nurses at Birdem. The classes are ongoing at National Heart Foundation. The trust continues to look for hospitals who would like to avail this great program for their nursing staff.

Nursing Classes: Nursing is the core of the NSEP program and therefore special attention is given to ensuring all the topics and classes have up-to date information. The topics are oriented to meet the needs of the hospital at which the nurses are taught. National Heart Hospital is taught topics related to the heart whereas Birdem Hospital has topics catered to Diabetes and other areas it specializes in. Initially, a Nursing Proficiency Exam was taken to assess the nurses’ level. There are two parts to the nursing sessions: Theory and Practical. The topics covered in the theory classes during January include: various therapeutic positions of patients and the use of comfort devices, therapeutic interpersonal relationships, vital signs, monitoring of B.P, types of sphygmomanometers, types of hypertension, Hypotension, nutrition: factors affecting nutritional status, nutritional assessment and types of diet. The topics covered in the practical sessions include: health assessment, monitoring of vital signs and a general respiratory assessment. English Classes: The over-all English competency of nurses in Bangladesh is very low. This is not due only to the lackings found within the Education System of Bangladesh, but also due to not having the opportunity to speak English nor having enough exposure to the language itself. Therefore, the English classes are taken through innovative means, incorporating pair-work and group work along with individual work. Nurses not only learn from the teacher but teach other through pair works and group works. Nurses are given the opportunity to speak and participate as much as possible.  Initially, an English Proficiency Exam was taken to assess the nurses’ level. The topics covered in January include: Why nursing and what kind of year was 2013? Writing about oneself and writing about a fellow classmate, description writing on different cut out magazine pictures, holidays and dream vacations.

Computer Classes: In the 21^st century, knowing how to use a computer has become practically a necessity opposed to an extra skill to acquire. Therefore, GHT has included computer classes within the program. To integrate the subjects and have the nurses use computers for Nursing and English classes, nurses are taught how to open their own email address and then given assignments to send to the instructors. Topics covered in the computer classes in January include: computer orientation, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, how to use the internet, how to open new emails, checking received emails, composing and sending emails and general internet browsing.

Grooming Classes:  Grooming is an essential part of all professions. Especially for nurses in the subcontinent, more often than not, they are not given some of the most important and basic grooming lessons. Therefore, the trust has organized grooming sessions for the nurses, in hopes of boosting their confidence and over-all appearance and work ethics as life savers. The grooming topics covered in January include: attire and style, the importance of personal grooming, the importance of personal appearance and image projection, standards of roaming at work place and creating an overall confident impression.

If interested in working with us or if you simply want to find out more information about what we endeavor to bring to the over-all healthcare system, current/future projects and much more, please visit us at: www.goodhealtrust.org