Health workers have completed a four-day special outreach programme providing expanded immunisation and healthcare services to Mro communities living in remote areas of Alikadam Upazila in Bandarban.
The programme was conducted from Wednesday (September 23) to Saturday (September 26) in several Mro villages around Poyamuhuri under Kurukpata Union, an extremely remote area along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
The initiative was organised by Alikadam Upazila Health Complex with funding from the US Department of State and support from the MIHR project of the private organisations JSI and Green Hill.
A total of 195 women and children from the Mro community were brought under free healthcare services and medicine distribution during the programme.
The services were provided in Fatra, Paharbhangga Menroya Mro Para, Tarani, Bara Agla and Sindhu Mangkhai Karbari Para.
According to the Upazila Health Department, a nine-member special team was formed under the direction of Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer (UH&FPO) Dr Mohammad Hanif. Health Assistant Chintoni Chakma led the team.
Other members included Health Assistant Samhri Marma, Liton Kanti Shil, Mongchenshu Marma, JSI District Coordinator Bilash Sourav Barua and Green Hill NGO Upazila Coordinator Mongchinspru Marma.
The health team travelled through extremely difficult mountainous terrain, crossing steep hills and streams to reach the remote Mro villages.
Local children and women received vaccines against tuberculosis, polio, measles and rubella, along with other essential immunisations. The team also conducted malaria tests, provided healthcare to pregnant women and offered health counselling for mothers and children. Free medicines were distributed as needed.
Md Obaidul Haque, EPI officer of the Upazila Health Department, said Paharbhangga Mro Para is the last settlement near the Myanmar border.
He said health workers travelled nearly 100 kilometres by engine-powered boat from Poyamuhuri before reaching Paharbhangga Mro Para. From there, they walked for hours along mountainous trails to reach other remote settlements and deliver healthcare services.
Local village doctor Bikash Khumi said he informs health workers at Alikadam Upazila Health Complex whenever members of the Poyamuhuri hill communities face health problems or when outbreaks occur. Health workers then travel to the area to provide treatment.
He added that he also serves the local Mro community as a village doctor.
UH&FPO Dr Mohammad Hanif said many children and women in the hill areas remain outside regular healthcare and vaccination programmes because of geographical difficulties.
“This special remote outreach programme has been conducted to bring those children and women under full vaccination coverage. Our efforts to deliver basic healthcare services to people across the hill areas will continue,” he said.
