QRCS concludes medical convoy to Bangladesh

Qatar Red Crescent Society’s general surgery medical convoy delegation, who recently returned from Bangladesh, performed 247 medical examinations and 52 major surgeries for refugees and the local community of Cox's Bazar.The delegation comprised Dr Jawhara Hamad Saif al-Qahtani (resident doctor), Dr Ambika Anand (senior consultant), Dr Suhail Mohamed Gamal Ahmed (anesthesia consultant), Dr Hassan Salem Baghazal (senior consultant), Dr Sayed Mohamed Ali (senior consultant), Soha Hassan Ali (nurse), and Dr Izzedeen Gaafar (medical convoys programme co-ordinator at QRCS’ Relief and International Development Division).The seven-day mission was hosted by the Teknaf General Hospital, with surgical interventions in the specialties of general surgery, pediatric surgery, urology, and cancer surgery. The medical staff of the hospital took part in the procedures.QRCS’ representation office in Bangladesh secured all the necessary surgical supplies and medical consumables and equipment.On the last day of the medical convoy, the delegation examined the patients currently receiving post-operative care to check on their health conditions, give them medical advice, and hand over their medical reports to the hospital’s medical personnel for follow-up.During the closing ceremony, the delegation received an honourary shield from the hospital’s management, in recognition of their volunteering to provide surgical services for poor patients.The delegation visited the QRCS-operated field hospital at the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, which is part of a project to improve shelter conditions and health care services for refugees, in partnership with Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society (KRCS).They inspected the facility’s medical services and logistical and human resources, to ensure its capacity to host surgical interventions in the future.The delegation held a meeting with representatives of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Cox's Bazar, who thanked them for their efforts to help the patients from poor and refugee families, wishing that future medical convoys would last longer.They also commended QRCS’ key humanitarian role in Bangladesh, through shelter, health care, and food security projects for the benefit of refugees and the host community. It was suggested that QRCS would expand the scope of its health interventions to cover maternal and child health, extend the duration of the field hospital operation project, and contribute to medical education programmes in Bangladesh.Dr Ahmed, head of the medical delegation, appreciated BDRCS’ support and facilitations, which helped them a lot in their successful mission.Qatar's embassy in Bangladesh supported the mission by facilitating entry and departure procedures at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.