RANGAMATI, Sept 07 (V7N) — The Bangladesh Army has stepped up welfare activities in remote areas of Rangamati, providing free medical treatment and medicines to hundreds of residents while training local women in basic healthcare and first aid for emergencies involving mothers and children.

The initiatives, aimed at improving access to healthcare in hard-to-reach hill communities, were organised under the overall supervision of Rangamati Region.

A day-long free medical camp was organised by Rangamati Sadar Zone at the premises of the Sapchhari Union Parishad office in Rangamati Sadar upazila on Sunday.

Lieutenant Colonel Ekramul Rahat, Commander of Rangamati Sadar Zone, inaugurated the medical camp, where hundreds of disadvantaged women, men and children from remote areas received free medical treatment and medicines.

Patients were examined for various health problems and provided with medical advice and necessary medicines. For many residents of remote hill areas, reaching healthcare facilities requires travelling long distances, making such local medical camps particularly important.

At the inaugural programme, Lieutenant Colonel Ekramul Rahat said the Army had been carrying out various welfare activities to promote peace, harmony and friendship in the Chittagong Hill Tracts while improving the living standards of marginalised communities.

“One of the main objectives of such initiatives is to bring healthcare services to people who remain deprived of necessary treatment because of geographical remoteness and distance,” he said.

He added that such humanitarian activities would continue in the future.

Local residents welcomed the medical camp, saying free treatment and medicines were particularly valuable for economically disadvantaged families living in remote areas.

They also said programmes involving both hill and Bengali communities could help strengthen communication, mutual understanding and social harmony.

Meanwhile, Jurachhari Zone Headquarters (2 Bir), under the overall supervision of Rangamati Region, has launched a two-week training programme for women on women’s and children’s health and basic first aid.

The programme is being conducted under the message “Healthy Mother, Safe Child” and involves around 30 to 35 women from indigenous hill and Bengali communities in different parts of Jurachhari upazila.

The training aims to increase health awareness among women and equip them with basic knowledge and skills to respond to emergencies involving children and pregnant women, particularly in areas where doctors and hospitals are not readily accessible.

The sessions cover women’s and children’s health protection, health awareness, disease prevention and various aspects of first aid during emergencies.

The programme is being conducted under the supervision of Captain Md Nazmus Sakib, AMC, Medical Officer of Jurachhari Zone Headquarters, and Md Muntasir Alam, Medical Officer at Jurachhari Upazila Health Complex.

Organisers said the training could help families in remote areas make timely decisions and take appropriate initial measures during medical emergencies before professional healthcare becomes available.

For the participating women, the programme is intended not only to provide training but also to develop their capacity to support their own families, children and neighbouring communities during emergencies.

The organisers expect the participants to share their newly acquired knowledge with family members, neighbours and other people in their communities, thereby helping to improve health awareness and contribute to the protection of women and children.

Those involved in the initiative said a mother’s health awareness plays an important role in a child’s healthy development and that improving women’s knowledge of healthcare can benefit entire families.

Meanwhile, local representatives, members of civil society and senior Army officials attended the medical camp in Sapchhari. Among them were Sapchhari Union Parishad Chairman Prabin Chakma, UP member Riton Barua, Mabikchhari Bazar Samity President Md Saiful Islam Sagar, Sapchhari Jubo Dal President Abdul Bacha and Social Committee member Md Jahangir.

The Bangladesh Army said welfare initiatives aimed at improving healthcare access, raising public awareness and strengthening community relations in remote areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts would continue.

END/AMR/SMA/