Source: Daily Ittefaq
Floating hospital
Aklima has one of the biggest smiles in her class, but she wasn't always so cheerful. Born with a cleft lip, Aklima used to feel self-conscious and shy and her classmates would make fun of her. Her parents considered it a curse.
That was before the Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital pulled up on her remote stretch of the River Brahmaputra. The hospital began life an oil tanker. With an initial donation of $135 000, the Friendship Association, a local charity, was able to convert the ship into a modern health clinic.
The boat differs from most conventional hospitals not just because it is afloat but also because it goes to the patients rather than the other way round. For the thousands of poor Bangladeshis, like Aklima, who live in the country's flood-prone islands, Lifebuoy's free treatment and medicine are usually the only healthcare they can get.
Essential services
The Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital's team of two doctors and 14 medical staff, along with volunteer doctors from overseas, provide everything from basic healthcare and immunisations to minor surgery. During 2007 they carried out 1 425 operations, of which 880 were to restore or preserve people's eyesight. More than 3 000 patients received dental care, and 600 had dental surgery. In total, 52 000 people received health care treatment and advice on board in 2007.
Aklima is one of over 275 000 people to have been helped by the Unilever-sponsored hospital ship since it set sail in 2001. "None of my friends call me 'cleft lip' anymore after my operation on the Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital," she beams.
Improving hygiene
Hygiene is a key issue in developing countries such as Bangladesh, and one of Unilever's priorities is to help improve hygiene practices. The ready availability and use of soap has an immediate impact in stopping the spread of germs and preventing disease. The Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital is branded with the name and colours of Lifebuoy soap to help reinforce the link between hygiene and health and to emphasise our commitment to people's health through our products. Leaflets providing advice on basic hygiene are given out along with free samples of soap, thus spreading the health and hygiene message as far as possible.
Pepsodent Dentibus
Oral hygiene is also important and the success of our Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital inspired the Unilever 'Dentibus', which has been running since 2004. Sponsored by our Pepsodent toothpaste brand, the 'Dentibus' is a modified bus complete with modern dental check-up facilities. Its passengers are professional dentists who visit schools and neighbourhoods to provide free check-ups.
Dentibus visits are announced in advance so that local residents can set aside time. Visits to schools are usually supported by various team games for the children so that health messages are delivered in a fun way. The dentists also hand out booklets on oral hygiene.
The campaign has reached an average 200 000 people a year. Pepsodent's Brand Manager, Risalat Siddique, says: "Dentibus sustains our vision of spreading healthy smiles across Bangladesh.
Source: http://www.unilever.com