Launching the first floating hospitals in Bangladesh

Friendship, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), jointly with SES, a world-leading satellite operator based in Luxembourg, announced the launching of the first state-of-the-art Maritime VSATs on river barges. The Maritime VSATs will be deployed on three floating hospital ships; Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital, Emirates Friendship Hospital and Rongdhonu Friendship Hospital, under technical assistance of Square Informatix (Bangladesh) Ltd.

In May 2014, Friendship collaborated with SES for the development of SATMED project, an e-health platform conceived by SES and supported by the Luxembourg Government and the Ministry of Cooperation and Humanitarian Action.

SATMED is a satellite based communication solution aimed to improve public health in emerging and developing countries, most significantly in isolated areas with poor connectivity.

As part of the project scope Friendship will install three maritime VSATs to enable constant Internet connectivity and data communication in its three floating hospitals: Emirates Friendship Hospital, Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital and Rongdhonu Friendship Hospital.

Runa Khan, founder and executive director of Friendship, announced while the installation will take place between March 1-5, 2016, the formal launching will be held on March 2 at Emirates Friendship Hospital.