TANGAIL, Nov 10 : Jibon Tori Is a floating charitable hospital which has been anchored near the eastern side of Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge to provide free health care service to the disabled rural people. 11 will stay here for two months.

Impact Foundation Bangladesh (IFB) is a charitable trust and a nongovernmental organisation (NGO) working to achieve sustainable and affordable change in the immemorial pattern of disability through efforts to prevent avoidable disablement. It was registered as a trust on July 25. 1993 with the government of Bangladesh. IFB launched the floating hospital —Jibon Tori, first of its kind in Bangladesh in April. 1999.

Jibon Tori floating hospital provides health care service, both clinical and surgical. It provides treatment in the form of complicated surgical operations In the areas of opthalmology, ENT and orthopaedic for cure of disablement and also provides services as a mobile hospital al time of emergency caused by natural calamities.

Besides the administrator, three full time physicians (eye, orthopaedic and ENT), six nurses, technician for pathology and radiology, administrative assistant, health educator, maintenance supervisors and four support staffers serve here.

When contacted with Nurul Haque Sarkar, administrator ol Jibon Tori hospital, he said that §6,672 clinical and 3,787 surgical operations have been done from here so far. On average 250 patients have been taking treatment in the hospital every day. He also said that a large number of disabled people come here from different areas everyday.

Jibon Tori is now staying two kilometres far from Bangabandhu Jamuna Birdge (east) area. As a result many patients who come from the remote areas face problem to reach the floating hospital.

So, die Project Director of Jamuna Maintenance and Operation Company (JOMAC) has provided a car to carry patients from Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge area to Jibon Tori hospital premises.

JOMAC also has given a boat so that people who come from Sirajganj can get treatment easily from here.

The Administrator of Jibon Tori hospital expressed his gratitude to JOMAC for their noble initiative.

At present many disabled rural people go back to their normal life after receiving proper treatment from this floating hospital.