The International Organization for Migration (IOM) with support from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (UNCERF) and in collaboration with local administration opened a health centre for freedom fighters in Cox’s Bazar on Monday.
The newly-opened health facility has been set up on the ground floor of the office of Muktijoddha Sangsad, Cox’s Bazar chapter, at Motel Road with IOM’s Health and Transition and Recovery Division units doing the renovation work.
According to the district administration, currently 365 Freedom Fighters, most of them aged over 65, are living in Cox’s Bazar.
As a longstanding partnership with the health ministry, the IOM has been providing emergency and primary healthcare services to both host community members and Rohingya refugees in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas in Cox’s Bazar.
Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Kamal Hossain inaugurated the health facility.
He said “IOM has been supporting the district administration with multiple initiatives, but this one in particular is commendable as it addresses the most pressing needs of our national heroes.”
The services available at the newly-launched clinic include health checkups, curative medical consultations for general ailments, essential medicine free of cost, medical tests at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital (with support from IOM’s health referral team), and lifestyle and health education services.
The outpatient consultation services dedicated to FFs and their families will be available two days a week - Saturday and Monday.
Manuel Marques Pereira, IOM Deputy Chief of Mission in Cox’s Bazar, said, ‘IOM is pleased to extend its support to the veteran freedom fighters in Cox’s Bazar by inaugurating this new clinic today (Monday).”
“It is vital to ensure the elderly receive the medical services and medical access they need to age with dignity,” he added.
