Joint initiative brings smile to a child
Sadik Ahamed a 6 month old boy was born with cleft lip. His parents, Meser Ali and Selina Begum, live in Dhopakol Dangapara under Polashbari Union in Parbatipur Upazila. Sadik's mother Selina Begum is a member of Participatory Action for Development (PAD) group. The members of that group collect some taka each month as their savings. PAD Group is one activity among several activities of RRHS project. There are sixty PAD groups in each union. Dhopakol Dangapara PAD group is one of them. Each group has twenty members.
Sadik's family is a very needy one. Sadik's father is the only earning member of the family. Since Sadik had cleft lip, his parents were always worried about him. One day the CHW visited the family and discovered that the baby had cleft lip. She advised them to bring the baby to the union RRHS Disability Clinic that is held every month at their union office. Sadik's father and mother brought him to the disability clinic.
The DPA saw the boy and he referred him to Dinajpur Diabetes Hospital for surgery. But that cost was very high for the family. Selina Begum shared their problem with the PAD group leader. The PAD group leader shared with the other members at their monthly meeting and they decided to help with Sadik's surgery. All members came forward to help Sadik and contributed to cover Sadik's surgery and hospital accommodation cost.
The first surgery was completed successfully. Six months later Sadik had a second surgery. His parents are so happy and thankful to the PAD group and RRHS project staff of their union.
