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"I can't stop thinking about the individuals and families that you and I, through OBAT Helpers, have prioritized to serve. I am honored to know that in a time when it can only be about oneself, OBAT Helpers and the team on the ground are continuing to make it about others. Thank you. I can't say much more than that, besides asking you to keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers.
You are all in mine. Be well. And be safe."
Anwar Khan
Founder & President, OBAT Helpers
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| Rohingya Clinic COVID response meeting |
OBAT Institutes Measures to Address Potential
Spread of COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are thinking of all our OBAT family, our staff, supporters and beneficiaries, and wishing them safety and health. We are especially and deeply concerned about the outbreak's potential devastating impact where we serve, in the displaced population camps as well as Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh.
As a matter of safety and precaution, OBAT has been proactive in implementing measures, some of which include:
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Programs Held to Create Awareness of COVID-19
During March, an awareness program was held at OBAT 's Primary School in Khulna about the spread of Corona Virus.
The teachers had a discussion about the preventive measures that should be taken to remain protected from the spread of the virus.
An emergency meeting of Chittagong 's Think Tank was also held on how to create awareness on COVID-19. The team decided to create and print fliers and distribute them door to door to build awareness of preventative measures against the disease.
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| Think Tank volunteer sprays camp with disinfectant |
Think Tank Undertakes Projects to Address COVID Crisis
OBAT's Think Tank in Chittagong donated 3,500 Taka ($43) to Health BD, an online health organisation that was set up to distribute PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) to Doctors who are involved in treating Corona virus patients. With the help of their donation, Health BD distributed PPE to Chittagong Medical College Doctors. The Think Tank raised the funds through their operating fund to which they contribute monthly; the rest of the amount was donated by teachers and staff of the Chittagong projects. The group also arranged for a water tank to facilitate hand washing for camp residents and distributed masks among them by going door to door.
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The Khulna Think Tank team sprayed the camp alleys with disinfecting spray while in Syedpur, they distributed food packages donated by SUVA, to the camp residents in Syedpur.
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We are so proud of our Think Tanks for undertaking projects at this time of widespread crisis.
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| The New Dental Chair from RCF |
New Dental Chair Installed at Rohingya Health Clinic
OBAT's Clinic for Rohingya refugees just received a fully-equipped new dental chair set up for its facilities at the clinic. The dental chair was a generous donation from Refugee Crisis Foundation which has been partnering with OBAT since 2018 to provide much needed dental services for the refugees. OBAT's Clinic is the only clinic in the Kutupalong refugee camp to have this added facility for treatment of patients.
Our team is very excited about this addition! The dentists employed by RCF were already recognized all over the Rohingya camp as being the best dentists around, and this new addition will further improve the level of excellence of services provided. The dental unit is ready to go after addition of concrete flooring to the clinic to provide a stable surface to the clinic. Thank you to our partner, Refugee Crisis Foundation!
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| The team visiting the Khan Academy class |
Telecommunications Company Visits OBAT Schools
During March, BDApps and Robi Axiata Limited's mobile team visited OBAT's Elementary and OBAT Junior High School in Chittagong. BDApps is the sister organization of Robi Axiata Limited which is the largest telecommunications company in Bangladesh The teams informed the students and teachers about Mobile Pocket School and the digital attendance apps. The latter are both being used by these schools. The teams also spoke with the students and visited the Khan Academy class at the Chittagong High School. They were excited to witness the progress of the students on digital learning and programming.
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| Mr. Qaiser Shareef talking to women in the camps |
Visitors Continue to Bring Joy into the Projects
The previous month continued to receive a steady stream of visitors. Mr. Qaiser Shareef, a former Procter & Gamble executive with a career spanning 30 years and currently an advisory partner at Ward Howell International, visited several of OBAT's Schools in Dhaka and Chittagong and shared his thoughts about his visit:
"I had been hearing about OBAT for a long time but this was my first experience visiting Dhaka and Chittagong. I would have never known about the life of camp residents if I had not visited the camps. I am grateful to my father for all this because he always worked for the well-being of this community. I'm here today because my father inspired me and also thanks to Anwar Khan who is doing great work. It was a highly productive and informative trip for me. I will carry with me many, many positive memories from the OBAT Schools I was able to visit.
However, I was surprised to see one thing- they live in so much distress but there is always a smile on their faces. This really touched my heart."
Mr. Hathia, at OBAT's Learning Center
Mr. Fayyaz Hathia from France, was another visitor . He spent the day visiting projects in the Rohingya camps. Mr. Hathia was thrilled with his visit, which included seeing the OBAT Health Post and the Learning Centers. He was particularly enthusiastic about the Digital Learning Program that is operating in Learning Centers 3 and 4, and in two Host Community classrooms.A team from the Bangladeshi Red Crescent Society (BDRS), which included our previous Medical Coordinator Dr Bayezeed, also visited the Rohingya Clinic and met the team and patients at the Clinic.
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| Children with their new water bottles |
Rohingya Learning Centers Hummed with Activity During March
Many of OBAT's Learning Centers in the Rohingya Camps were recently repaired by local and Rohingya volunteer laborers in the Kutupalong Camp. The repairs include re-daubing the mud-walls and strengthening the overall structure. The repairs are a very exciting development for our students, and were made possible by the generosity of OBAT Helpers' sponsors. The organization, Save the Children, repaired the fencing boundary surrounding 3 Learning Centers.
The children were also very enthused by the new materials provided to them to assist with their wellbeing and with their studies. The children in the Camp 8W Learning Centers received brand new reusable water bottles, provided to them by Practical Action, in coordination with the Camp in Charge. The children in our Host Community Digital Learning Educational Program were very happy to receive new drawing books by our staff, as gifts for their performance in recent assessments.
A meeting with the teachers was held in the OBAT Community Center, with positive feedback and reception by all camp residents and the management team.
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| A patient receives a check up |
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235 Camp Residents Receive Medical Check Up
The City Eye Hospital in Halishahar arranged free testing for vision, blood pressure as well as diabetes. The testing took place at OBAT's Primary School in Halishahar, Chittagong.
235 camp residents received a check up. Of these, 152 were students from OBAT's Halishaher School. The Doctors were very satisfied with the overall health of the students and advised Vitamin C intake to a few. They also supplied Vitamin C tablets to them. Thank you to the City Eye Hospital for their valuable partnership.
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| A student getting her blood drawn for the test |
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Nutrition Program Benefits Health of Students
" The Euglena GENKI Program distributes cookies with rich nutrients to Bangladeshi children free of charge. The program distributes six Euglena cookies for one meal. This one meal can provide one day's worth of nutrients that are particularly lacking for Bangladeshi children."
Euglena has been working with OBAT's Dhaka English School and providing these biscuits to the students. It has also been carrying out assessments in four different phases to determine the effects of the added nutrients to the students' diets. 79 students participated in these assessments. The students were in the 7 to 9 year old age group. According to the findings, the hemoglobin level of the kids continued to increase with more intake of the biscuits. Hence, the number of anemic children decreased gradually.
We are very grateful to Euglena for providing these biscuits to our school. Many of the children suffer from
malnutrition
due to their impoverished circumstances and the biscuits are a valuable addition to their diet.
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| The workbooks donated by UNICEF |
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UNICEF Provides Workbooks for At-Home Learning
Due to the COVID-19 situation, the Education Sector in the Kutupalong Rohingya Refugee Camp has stressed the importance of all children enrolled in Learning Centers in the camp to continue their studies from home while the closure of Learning Centers continues. UNICEF has delivered new workbooks for all OBAT students, which will be distributed to ensure minimal disruption to the education of our young learners.
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Heartbreaking News
We are terribly saddened to share with you the news of the passing of our fifth grade student, Rifat.
Rifat studied in grade V at OBAT's School in Khalishpur, Khulna. He lived with his parents in camp no.1 in Khalishpur and had been suffering from liver disease for some time. Our hearts go out to his family and we send them our prayers for dealing with this profound loss. His family at OBAT will miss his warm smile dearly. Rest in peace, dear Rifat.
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Use Facebook to Multiply your Philanthropic Impact!
Most of you probably have hundreds of friends on Facebook. Imagine harnessing all their philanthropic leanings into a fundraiser that you create for OBAT on Facebook!
The result could be tremendous!
All you need to do:
- Go to your Facebook home page
- Click on "Fundraisers" on the left side of your screen, under the "Explore" heading
- Next click on, "Raise Money" and then "Get Started"
- Choose OBAT from the Nonprofits area
- Enter a few details and invite your friends
- You are all set!
The good news is, a full 100% of the amount you raised will be sent to OBAT- Facebook does not deduct transaction fees for nonprofits.
Raise away!
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Inspired?
DONATE to our projects!
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OBAT Helpers Inc.
317.203.0603| contact@obathelpers.org |www.obathelpers.org
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