City Desk :
Once getting consultations from expert physicians was beyond the imagination of the people of Badarkhali, a remote union in Cox’s Bazar’s Chakaria upazila, where healthcare facilities are very insufficient.
But rapid progress and expansion of information and communication technology (ICT) through the implementation of “Digital Bangladesh” has translated the dreams of receiving treatment from specialist physicians into reality as the people in this remote area are now getting modern telemedicine services. The materialization of Digital Bangladesh has reached advanced medicare facilities in the rural area.
Comments of Ahmedur Rahman, a farmer who resides at Block No. 3 under Badarkhali union, portrayed the scenario of development in the locality in the field of health sector.
“I along with my four other family members including wife, son and daughter tested positive for coronavirus. It was beyond our affordability to receive treatment by going outside of my upazila or district. Then a neighbor suggested me calling at ‘333’, the national helpline,” he said.
Rahman continued: “Accordingly, I did that and stayed at home after consulting with specialist physicians. Getting treatment through telemedicine service, all of our family recovered from illness.”
He said he never even dreamed that he could get treatment from specialist physicians sitting at home. “We received the facilities during our dire needs. I’m praying for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for transforming the dream into reality,” Rahman said.
Noor Habib Taslim, a social worker of Badarkhali, said many residents of the union received telemedicine services during the severe crisis period of coronavirus pandemic and got consultations from expert physicians.
The epoch-making initiative of the government has brought scopes for rural people to receive treatment staying at home, he said.
The Digital Bangladesh vision of the government has been facilitating people in multifaceted ways as it has made reaching government services to the people’s doorsteps in an easier, time-saving and cost-effective way.
Hefaj Morshed, a resident of Dulahazra union under Chakaria upazila, had worked at a private organization in Dhaka but lost his job during the corona virus pandemic. Then he returned home.
Under this circumstance, Digital Bangladesh initiative offered a ray of hope for Morshed as he started doing e-commerce staying at home. He initiated his business with products like “shutki” (dried fish), pickles, vegetables and so on. Now he is self-reliant.
