Health services close by at DITF

Asma Khatun with her three-year-old baby came to visit Dhaka International Trade Fair in the capital to buy some household goods.  

Unfortunately, her baby fell sick immediately after entering the fair venue. It was coughing severely and the suffering was increasing with the rolling of time.   Asma felt very helpless and looked for a remedy. 

Meanwhile, she came to know about Square health care centre inside the fair venue and went there to get primary medication for her child.

"I went to the centre, consulted doctor, and took primary treatment for my child," Asma said.  “Doctor and volunteers of the centre are so co-operative. Now I feel relaxed,” she added.

Like Asma Khatun, many people with minor children, and many old-aged persons visiting the trade fair are receiving primary medication, in case of sudden illness, from the healthcare centres installed inside the fair ground.

This year the DITF authorities allowed two prominent health service provider companies — Square Toiletries Limited and Incepta Hygiene and Hospicare Limited — at the fair for providing first-aid services.

Square runs two stalls named  Supermom health care centre and Mother and Children Centre while Incepta runs a stall named New Care Centre.

They provide most of the medications and drugs including oral and intravenous saline, sanitary pad, Omiprazole, Peracitamol free of costs. Some other medical products including baby diaper are available at the centres at discounted price.

Visiting the fair, many people were found receiving the services after getting sick suddenly while some were taking advice from doctors for their health problems they were suffering from for two or three days.

They take the services at the fair alongside shopping.

According to the doctors there, most of people are coming with diseases and problems which can be treated at the health centres.

“Majority of patients are children with skin, breathing and cold problems,” said Dr Kanchon, medical officer at Mother and Children Centre, adding that there were some others suffering from cold allergy or gynaecological problems.

“First, I give them some advice but, if needed, I suggest prescription based on their symptoms," she added. "If I get any serious patient, I refer them to a specialist doctor or hospital for better treatment," said Dr Kanchon. 

New Care Centre Medical Officer Dr Ayesa Akter said that apart from cold-related diseases, vomiting or any sudden health problems, many people were coming with several other issues.

“Many are coming to learn more about nutrition. Some women take advices for family planning, and gynaecological problems," she added. 

Each of the health centres has two doctors and they perform duties on eight-hour shift basis.

About 150-200 people take medications and services from the healthcare centres on an average every day, according to officials.

Visitors and service recipients expressed their satisfaction with such initiative taken by the DITF authorities.

Meanwhile, the fair set a breast-feeding corner, for which many mothers lauded the authorites.

“It is really a good service. We can comfortably feed our babies here. If there was no centre like this, we would face problem in managing our babies and would perhaps not be able to come for shopping,” said Monwara Ahmed, a mother.