Bangladesh: Day 5, Pabna

It takes a village …

As we arrive by bus at today’s distribution site in the town of Madpur on the outskirts of Pabna, we see a sign hanging over the entrance to the driveway welcoming the SCAW Canada and Rotary Club of Dhaka Team.

From Bangladesh 2010

We exit the bus and begin walking a gauntlet of applause from the children, parents, and grandparents. Many of the village locals have come just to watch. While many foreigners visit Bangladesh they usually stay in the major cities so few (if any) of today’s onlookers have ever seen a white person. The colour of our pale skin draws lots of attention and the kids (and adults) are eager to touch us, to feel something new.

This is a new location for a SCAW distribution, Gulnar Children’s Hospital. Our host comes from a long line of physicians and the hospital is named after his departed Mother’s family name.
A colourful tent has been set up as change rooms for the children and to keep them shaded from the scorching sun. This is the poorest area we’ve been to so far, and some of the children arrive without shoes or shirts. This reinforces why we are travelling many hours to reach these poor communities. We spend a few minutes with the bubbles and the duck puppet to help the children - and parents - feel more at ease. The parents and grandparents have just as much fun blowing the bubbles as the kids do.

From Bangladesh 2010

The venue is small and the distribution of 280 bedkits gave us a great opportunity to interact with many of the parents and local onlookers.

As the distribution wraps up we spend a few minutes to hear from local dignitaries, the site sponsor, and the children and parents. Those who have received bedkits are ever so thankful, while the parents of those who didn’t receive this year speak clearly into the microphone about how they hope and pray that the program will continue and that their children will be blessed enough to get one next year.

From Bangladesh 2010

After packing up the equipment we are offered a tour of the hospital and we jump at the opportunity. The hospital sees between fifty and seventy-five children a day, even though the facilities and staffing are meagre (at best). The doctor mentions the desperate need for pediatric doctors and nurses to come and help.

As we walk back to the bus we are reminded that it really does take a village…

Danielle Lalonde
for Bangladesh Team 2010

Leave your comments here.