In collaboration with Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has concluded a project to improve health care services for refugees at camps and the local community in Cox’s Bazar, southern Bangladesh.
Over almost a couple of years, the project served more than 400,000 vulnerable beneficiaries. It involved the operation of three health centers at camps #12, E8, and 19 for 16 months, as well as a field hospital at camp #7 for two months.
The centers provided free-of-charge emergency medical services and specialized consultations for refugees and the host community, including emergency care, maternal and child health services, outpatient clinics, laboratory and diagnostic tests, radiology, and referrals.
Also, there were large-scale health awareness campaigns at the camps, which focused on disease prevention and promotion of healthy behaviors. They helped raise health awareness and reduce the spread of diseases.
In the context of local community capacity-building, 78 community midwives were trained to provide safe obstetric services, and a training workshop was held on infection prevention and control (IPC) for 40 health care providers working at the supported facilities.
This project was driven by QRCS’s commitment to the provision of comprehensive and sustainable health care services for refugees and the host communities, as part of an integrated humanitarian response designed to alleviate suffering and improve the quality of life in displacement and refugee settings.
Established in 1978, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) is Qatar’s first humanitarian and volunteering organization that aims to assist and empower vulnerable individuals and communities without partiality or discrimination.
QRCS is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which consists of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and 191 National Societies. It is also a member of several GCC, Arab, and Islamic organizations, such as the Islamic Committee of International Crescent (ICIC) and the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization (ARCO). In this legally recognized capacity, QRCS has access to disaster and conflict zones, thus serving as an auxiliary to the State of Qatar in its humanitarian and social efforts — a role that distinguishes it from other local charities and NGOs.
Both locally and internationally, QRCS has relief and development operations in numerous countries throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Central and South America. Its humanitarian mandates include disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and risk reduction. To mitigate the impact of disasters and improve the livelihoods of affected populations, QRCS provides medical services, food, water, shelter, and other needs of local communities. It is also active at the humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy front.
With the help of a vast network of trained, committed staff and volunteers, QRCS aspires to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity, inspired by the seven Fundamental Principles of humanitarian action: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
