BFES

BANGLADESH FRIENDSHIP EDUCATION SOCIETY (BFES)

BFES is a non-government organization registered under the provisions of The Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act, 2016 from the NGO Affairs Bureau of the Prime Minister’s office. It was established on March 3, 1993 to support health and education projects in rural areas. BFES serves southwest Bangladesh from a remote village Sreefoltola of Rampal upazila, in the Bagerhat district. The project area is within 15 km of Mongla port.


From the experiences of its 30 years, BFES modeling three significant projects in the greater Khulna region-


1. Breast Cancer detection and treatment planning center that covers women from surrounding 18+ districts

2. Created a comprehensive village health database including patient data is secured, protected electronic format, and

3. Digital health services that combined with tele-health, video consultation under a secured Microsoft solution.


Logo credential: BFES Logo was designed by eminent Artist Professor Qayuum Chowdhury in 1993

STATEMENT

BFES believes that society is undergoing dramatic changes, necessitating a fundamental rethinking of healthcare and educational systems and approaches. The specific answer will vary among countries, particularly between advanced and developing nations. However, one provision applies universally: social and economic changes are constant, and we must consider acquiring knowledge to adapt to globalization. This moment provides an opportune time for discussing change, despite many components of change having already been in progress for some time. In this regard, BFES identifies two major macro changes to focus its program actions: globalization and the combined effects of knowledge advancements and the revolution in information and communications technology.

AFFILIATION

∎ Registered with NGO Affairs Bureau: 10 March 1994 (ID- 819)

∎ Registered with the Department of Social Services: 8 September 2019 (ID- Bager-934/19)

∎ BFES has ‘ECOSOC Status’ with the United Nations since 2016

∎ BFES is the ‘Member Participant’ of the WHO Global Coordination Mechanism on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (WHO GCM/NCD) since 2018

GOVERNANCE

Founding Members (The Founders):

1. Mahmudul Haque, Professor, Institute of Fine Art, Dhaka University (Founding President)

2. Reza Salim, Health Communication Specialist (Founding Secretary & Director)

3. Mohammad Kibria, Professor, Institute of Fine Art, Dhaka University

4. Qayuum Chowdhury, Professor, Institute of Fine Art, Dhaka University

5. Dr. Mizanur Rahman Shelley, Former State Minister, Former Head of Social Service, GoB

6. Rabiul Hussain, Architect

7. Rashiduzzaman Ahmed, Environment Specialist


Founding Patrons:

∎ Embassy of Japan, Bangladesh

∎ Japan Education Fund

∎ Makoto Taneda, Lawyer, Member of the Parliament, Ibaraki, Japan

∎ AusAid, Government of Australia


Executive Committee (October 2022 to September 2024):

1. President: Debashish Nag

2. Vice-President: SM Haroon-or Rashid

3. Secretary: Reza Salim (Director)

4. Treasurer: Musa Ibrahim

5. Member: Kakoli Rani Halder

6. Member: K. Z Hossain

7. Member: Md. Toufikul Islam

PROGRAMS

1. Amader Gram Digital Health Services - is a social innovation in health care in Bangladesh. This initiative is being operated from a Networked Medical Hub established in a remote village ‘Sreefoltola’ of Rampal Upzila in Bagerhat district. Through this project, any person using information technology (Mobile phone, Texting, e-Mail, live Video meeting) from anywhere in Bangladesh, irrespective of religion, caste, age or gender, can get affordable primary health care and services from registered medical officers.

Link- https://www.swasthyasheba.net/


2. Breast Cancer eHealth Services & Research - we developed affordable and high-quality outpatient medical care services in Khulna city. We have been working to provide ‘one stop’ medical care for women with breast problems. For every new patient a) we create an electronic medical record, b) we do a careful complete physical examination, and, c) we perform breast ultrasound examination with a high-resolution scanner. For any patient who has a breast change that may be cancer, we recommend and do an immediate painless needle biopsy to obtain tissue to make a pathological examination. For any patient who we find has a serious breast problem, the patient’s situation is reviewed at our weekly international patient management telemedicine video conference with international experts.

Link- https://www.agbcbd.org/

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Reza_Salim3


3. Amader Gram Cancer Care & Research Center (AGCRC) - a not-profit initiative to address cancer and other non-communicable diseases (SDG Target 3.4) located in southwest Bangladesh (Rampal sub-district). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself was eager to organize such an initiative in rural areas saying in her vision- 'is to ensure all facilities of cities to the doorstep of rural population'. In a stand visit she encouraged the Amader Gram Team to continue work for rural areas in challenging sectors of health care. The AGCRC emerged from these processes to develop a campus to address all NCDs and cancer specific services.

From 2016 Health Services division of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare came forward with annual financial support contributing to operating costs and for cancer detection services. In 2017 The Ministry of Social welfare extended support to build the campus constructions. Under planning commission approval in 2019, the center was built by the Works division of Bangladesh Government and after finishing work is expected to handover to AGCRC in July 2023.

Link- https://www.agcancercare.org/

CURRENT PARTNERS

1. Health Services Division, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

2. Directorate of Social Services, Ministry of Social Welfare

3. International Breast Cancer Research Foundation (IBCRF), USA

4. Microsoft

5. University of Florida, USA

6. Call for Humanity, USA

Contact