Telemedicine in remote areas during COVID-19. Photo: Spreeha Foundation
“During those uncertain times; when all doctor chambers were closed, the doctor was there to prescribe me medicines over the telephone which was a great relief for both me and my family” – said Anwar Hossain, while talking about Spreeha’s telehealth service that has been initiated more pro-actively in the wake of Coronavirus in 2020-21.
Bangladesh, situated in South Asia, confronts a multitude of challenges regarding disasters. Natural calamities impact approximately 6% of its population annually, with the country serving as a hotspot for tropical cyclones that wreak havoc in coastal regions, causing significant loss of life and property. Floods, droughts, salinity issues, extreme cold and heat waves, riverbank erosion, and powerful thunderstorms are recurrent occurrences, with Bangladesh enduring over 200 climate-related disasters in the last three decades alone. These calamities have resulted in millions of fatalities and inflicted approximately $16 billion in damage.
When a humanitarian emergency strikes, people are often forced to flee their homes and leave everything behind to make the dangerous journey to safety. During an emergency response, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency prioritizes saving lives and minimizing serious harm by meeting the most urgent humanitarian needs.
In 2023 we saw many of our members travelling again, reinvigorated by the chance to visit their in-country programs. The energy was high, and though there were still disasters, conflicts, and climate change affecting the globe, our members and their constituents showed enduring signs of hope and resilience. You can read about our members’ accomplishments, strategies, and future-thinking in the articles linked below. We also encourage you to explore our very active Blog section with more than 30 member Guest Blogs published. The year culminated in the publication of our new 2024 Global Philanthropy Guide, and a very highly praised Goalmakers 2023 Annual Conference.
We also encourage you to take a look at our 2024 Editorial Calendar to see what is coming up – and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to ensure you get these Issue Campaigns in your inbox as soon as they are published!
