Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital

The Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital (LFH) is Friendship’s flagship project and was initiated by Friendship in 2001 with an aim to provide essential primary healthcare services to char and riverbank-based population clusters in northern Bangladesh that are isolated from mainstream habitation.

The LFH is a double-decked shallow draft barge, 38.5m long and 5.05m wide, originally an oil barge that has been converted to a fully equipped floating hospital with all necessary medical equipment for providing primary and secondary healthcare services. Conversion work began in November 2000 with support from Unilever Bangladesh, CIDA and other donors, and the hospital opened its doors in December 2001.

The LFH is at the core of Friendship’s healthcare services. The ship is automated by hospital management system software developed by Friendship and equipped with chambers for doctors, two operation theatres, gynaecology unit, specialised women's healthcare unit, a special dental room with an operation facility, a pathological laboratory, a digitalised X-ray room and an eye unit with surgical facility. These units serve anti-natal and post-natal care, general gynaecology, pediatrics, family planning and obstetrics and treat a number of general diseases. There is a dispensary onboard to distribute free medicine to the patients. The ship can accommodate up to 20 staff members.

LFH provides regular on board primary and secondary healthcare services. It also organises specialised health camps every month to provide advance secondary healthcare, where prominent local and international doctors volunteer their time to perform medical surgeries and consulations at the hospital.

The LFH offers has provided emergency healthcare after natural calamities such as floods and cyclones. LFH’s regular secondary health camps advance secondary healthcare to char inhabitants who for the most part have always lived without any.

In March 2010, LFH went to renovation. During this time a static clinic is organizing at Charakuti Ghatt at Gaibandha district.

The total number of patient till March' 2012 is 404,908 out of which 292,508 is from primary healthcare and 112,400 is from secondary healthcare.

Click here to view the last monthly progress report (December 2011) of  Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital.

See also

• 1. 1. Emirates Friendship Hospital   

  2. 2. Rongdhonu