WildTeam, a conservation organisation, and Friendship, an international Social Purpose Organisation, on Tuesday launched a community healthcare initiative to bring primary health services, health awareness and referral support closer to vulnerable forest-edge communities at Joymoni and adjoining areas of Mongla upazila in Bagerhat.

The initiative was inaugurated through an orientation programme and a daylong health camp at the WildTeam Conservation Biology Centre (WCBC) at Joymoni.

Mongla Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sharmin Akter Sumi inaugurated the camp as the chief guest while Dr Md Hasanuzzaman Sarker, Programme Officer at Friendship, was present as guest of honour, said a press release.

The programme began with registration and welcome remarks from WildTeam, followed by an overview of the WildTeam-Friendship Community Health Initiative.

Dr Hasanuzzaman then conducted an orientation on community mobilisation, patient identification, primary healthcare, health awareness and referral procedures.

UNO Sharmin Akter Sumi said the distance between remote communities and formal health facilities can create serious risks during emergencies.

"Reaching the Upazila Health Complex can take as long as 45 minutes. Such a delay can be life-threatening for patients requiring urgent care, particularly expectant mothers and people suffering from strokes. For marginalised people who remain outside mainstream services, locally accessible healthcare through this initiative is genuinely necessary," she said.

She described the partnership as particularly important for Joymoni, where many vulnerable and forest-dependent households have limited access to regular healthcare.

"I sincerely request that this support continue without interruption, even when medical teams face logistical challenges. Government institutions and non-governmental organisations are working to provide health services, but communities must also become more health-conscious and seek care on time," the UNO said.

The initiative aims to improve access to basic healthcare, strengthen awareness of maternal, child, reproductive, adolescent and general health issues, and establish referral linkages for forest-dependent households.

Under the collaboration, Friendship will lead the medical component by providing qualified healthcare personnel, primary healthcare, maternal and child health services, screening, counselling, essential medicines subject to availability, mHealth assistance and referral support.

Friendship Community Medic-aides will conduct household visits and courtyard sessions, identify people requiring medical attention, mobilise patients for clinic services and connect them with Friendship's health and referral systems.

Dr Hasanuzzaman said Friendship would maintain a line list of patients requiring specialised treatment so they could be connected with its floating hospitals when those facilities operate in the region.

"Our hospital ships generally arrive every three to six months. In the meantime, we maintain a line list of complex cases, including patients requiring cataract surgery. When a hospital ship arrives, we contact the listed patients and connect them with the appropriate medical team so they can complete their treatment smoothly," he said.

Expressing optimism about the partnership, Dr Hasanuzzaman said cooperation from the local administration would be essential.

"We are highly optimistic about working here, particularly in collaboration with WildTeam. We consider the local administration the guardian of this area. Whenever we face challenges, we will seek its guidance and support, and we look forward to continued cooperation in reaching those who need healthcare most," he said.

WildTeam will provide agreed non-medical support, including the WCBC venue, community mobilisation, household listing, identification of vulnerable groups, registration, patient-flow management, local coordination and referral follow-up.

The initiative will prioritise forest-dependent households, women and adolescent girls, children, elderly people, pregnant and lactating mothers, forest-resource collectors and other vulnerable residents.

Hamidur Rahman, Station Officer of the Chandpai Range Forest Office under the Sundarbans East Forest Division, also attended the event alongside representatives of WildTeam and Friendship, healthcare personnel, community volunteers, local leaders, stakeholders and residents of nearby villages. RegionalParks and Gardens

With support from Echotex and Echoknits, a UK-Bangladesh joint venture, WildTeam is implementing the five-year programme Protecting Bengal Tiger and Biodiversity of the Sundarbans.

The WildTeam-Friendship Community Health Initiative is also supported through this programme, drawing on WildTeam's established field presence and community networks to reach vulnerable forest-edge households around Joymoni and adjoining areas.

The programme supports Village Tiger Response Teams, Forest Tiger Response Teams, BaghBandhus, TigerScouts, EarthScouts and forest-resource collectors, alongside improved cookstoves, solar streetlights, forest-safety training, wildlife rescue, youth engagement and conservation awareness.

These established community platforms have helped WildTeam identify vulnerable households, mobilise residents and provide the local coordination required for the healthcare initiative.

Following the orientation, the chief guest inaugurated the health camp and visited the registration and consultation areas.