A six member Rapid Response Team was deployed to Bangladesh alongside Muslim Aid. Heavy rains, an early start to the Monsoon season, and a series of tumultuous weather has resulted in widespread flooding affecting over 20 million people. Over 52% of the country is underwater and more than 7 million civilians have been displaced.
Global Medic has deployed an inflatable field hospital in the city of Sirajganj , 140 km northwest of Dhaka . The hospital is staffed local doctors and nurses and is currently treating over 1550 patients daily. The care they are providing is free of charge. Global Medic has donated the hospital, medical equipment and enough essential medicines to treat 30,000 patients. To date over 5500 patients have been treated. An alarmingly high percentage of patients are presenting with signs of water borne disease. The threat of an outbreak is imminent. A large scale water purification system has been set up to support the hospital, provide patients, staff and local residents with access to clean water.
The team also started to distribute 2.8 million water purification tablets. The tablets provide immediate access to clean water to flood victims in an attempt to stave off the outbreak of deadly water borne diseases.
Ten portable water purification units were installed in isolated areas where people have been cut off from aid. Typical sites for installation are schools where displaced persons are taking refuge. Each unit can provide over 1000 people a day with clean water.
A large scale water purification system was also set up capable of purifying over 140,000 litres of water daily. Bladder carrying trucks are constantly being filled in a coordinated effort to distribute clean water. Local residents line up to fill their newly donated jerry cans.
Daily, Global Medic provided over 100,000 civilians with clean drinking water and treated more than 1500 patients.
