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Bangladesh Programs and Projects
Health
Christian Health and Agricultural Service Ahladipur (CHASA)—Rajbari District
In 1974 “The Bangladesh Comprehensive Village Health Care and Rural Development Ministry” was begun by the former Presbyterian Church in the U.S. (PCUS). The goal of the project was to provide health and agricultural assistance at a grass-roots level in a needy part of Bangladesh. The Women of the Church gave half of the 1976 Birthday Offering to support the health portion of the plan; St. John Presbytery in Florida supported the agricultural portion. Some active programs of CHASA include tuberculosis treatment; general treatments including immunization; agriculture and livestock programs, including development of a small dairy farm; laboratory testing; health education, including nutrition, sanitation, family planning, dental care and disease prevention.
Christian Mission Hospital, Rajshahi
The Christian Mission Hospital (CMH) was founded by the Presbyterian Church of England in 1887 as a five-bed facility in northern Bengal. As it grew and expanded CMH moved several times and by 1950 had expanded to include an operating theater and a maternity section. The hospital grew to a full-service facility and became a ministry of the Church of Bangladesh in 1970. To ensure a supply of nurses the hospital founded the Elizabeth Conan Memorial Nursing Institute in 1973. Located next door to the hospital, it continues to be a major site for training nurses from all over Bangladesh. The hospital has also developed the Dr. U. N. Malakar Memorial Fund to subsidize hospital care for poor people. Healing Ministry of the Church Bangladesh
Most of the congregations of the Church of Bangladesh are in rural, underserved areas that lack basic social services and health care. In order to minister more effectively to the people in their communities, the Church of Bangladesh has requested assistance in planning, implementing and evaluating its health and social development programs. In an effort to strengthen their health ministry, the Church of Bangladesh has established the six goals for its health programs, including developing a program to provide comprehensive health education in all parts of the church and developing a spiritual ministry in each health program. |
