Caring for refugees: Dr. Saiful’s story
Growing up in the bustling port city of Chittagong on the coast of Bangladesh, Dr. Saiful Islam had big aspirations. “I dreamt to be a physician to serve the people of my country... That’s why I prepared myself from my childhood to become a physician, and I’m very lucky that I have succeeded.” He is now a pediatrician who cares for the Rohingya refugees through HOPE Foundation for Women and Children of Bangladesh in Cox’s Bazar.
Working as a physician in the Rohingya refugee camp comes with many challenges. The refugees experience crowded and unsafe living conditions that exacerbate dangerous diseases like COVID-19. In 2021, the community faced a devastating fire followed by deadly storms and flooding. Many health facilities were damaged, including HOPE Field Hospital, where Dr. Saiful works.
Dr. Saiful (left) uses the telehealth device to consult with a medical specialist to care for a patient (right) at HOPE Field Hospital.
Despite these obstacles, Dr. Saiful and his team continue to provide quality healthcare to the Rohingya. “We all know that the Rohingya have suffered a lot... We, the Bangladeshi, are trying to help them from the core of our heart with the help of National and International Organizations.” World Telehealth Initiative (WTI) is one of the humanitarian organizations that help provide essential services to the Rohingya.
Through our program, the refugees regularly receive care from medical specialists around the world. Our supporting physicians virtually connect to the telehealth device at HOPE Field Hospital from the comfort of their homes and offices. They provide medical expertise, mentorship, and support onsite physicians with patient visits.
When asked about the program, Dr. Saiful shared that “the World Telehealth Initiative program is the most emerging, innovative and helpful health program for patient care... Patients are satisfied to receive specialist healthcare services from foreign doctors by telehealth device. They expressed their excitement and satisfaction to us.”
Dr. Saiful (center, in the blue hat) caring for refugees in the camp.
Each telehealth consultation is a learning opportunity for the healthcare professionals at HOPE and WTI’s medical specialists. Dr. Saiful thinks the program is valuable because the “physicians [at HOPE] are exposed to very experienced consultants from different disciplines, sharing their knowledge with them and learning from them.” The program strengthens the health system in the camp to help address the Rohingya’s varied health needs.
Dedicated partner physicians, like Dr. Saiful, are essential to our programs. His commitment to providing quality healthcare for the Rohingya makes a lasting impact on many lives.
When asked what motivates him in his daily work, Dr. Saiful shared that “when a patient is cured [of] his/her diseases and discharged from hospital with smiling face, that makes me feel best.”