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BANGLADESHI-PEACEKEEPER-MEDICINE (with picture)
Bangladeshi peacekeepers provide free medicines in Wau
DHAKA, Oct 29, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladeshi contingent, serving with
the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, provided essential drugs
for more than 300 people in dire need at the Teaching Hospital in Wau,
in the Western Bahr El Ghazel region.
“We came here to support people who are suffering. We do that every
day as part of our mandate to protect civilians and build peace. But
we can also help people by providing free medicine from our home
country. It’s the least we can do,” Lieutenant Colonel Morshed Mojur
from the Bangladeshi contingent said.
He said the free medical campaign was part of their outreach to
build strong relationships with the communities they serve. It is
carried out in addition to their usual mandated work in Wau.
The medicine for malaria, coughs and skin diseases was handed out
based on prescriptions given to patients by doctors at the hospital,
according to a release received here today from New York.
The Teaching Hospital received some drugs from the national
Ministry of Health every three months, but demand is very high given
the hospital services communities across the entire north-west of
South Sudan.
“I came here because am sick with a stomach problem and my son has
malaria and a bad cough,” explained Santino Luka as he gratefully
received free medicine from Bangladeshi peacekeepers at a special
clinic in Wau.
Umjuma Mario, a 48-year mother of four children, said, “I have been
sick since last week and heard that there is medication here that is
why I came.”
She and other patients appreciate the support from the peacekeepers
because they simply can’t afford to buy the medicine they desperately
need.
“I am sick and was given a prescription by the doctor but did not
get the medicine in the hospital. I was told to buy it from the
pharmacy, but I have no money,” said Sunday Lino, a medical student
who is training in the hospital.
The Acting Medical Director of Wau Teaching Hospital acknowledged
the support of the peacekeepers for those in need but said more
support for the hospital was needed.
“In terms of children alone, we are receiving more than 150 patients
every day. It’s the same or even more in terms of adult patients,”
said Dr. Otim Peter.
“Our illnesses are seasonal with malaria being the highest
percentage of cases. The peacekeepers have medicine to help, including
painkillers and antibiotics,” he added.
BSS/PR/SAS/MRU/1830hrs