EKHON

এখন (ek-hon) translates to "Now" in Bangla

The Royal Bengal Tiger, the national animal of Bangladesh, represents power, courage, and vitality.

However, health inequity and social injustice are deep-rooted systemic issues in Bangladesh. By recognizing the issue, connecting with community members, and finding actionable solutions, change can be made.

In 2021, I went to Bangladesh during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mask mandates, lockdowns, certain regions of the city completely shut down, and millions of people in the midst of slums and disaster-prone coastal populations faced severe deprivations in housing, sanitation, and healthcare resources. There were also no formal processes for community members to get vaccinated, except for those with friends, family members, or connections to healthcare providers. Many communities relied heavily on local organizations, non-governmental organizations, public, and informal providers. 

Some vaccines were administered through house calls, with physicians personally administering doses to specific communities. This massive disparity completely altered the way I perceive healthcare access. I saw that communities with worsening health conditions were influenced not simply by the illness, but by where people lived, their financial circumstances, and whether they had connections to obtain limited resources. 

During this time, both of my grandparents passed away. My grandfather's untreated respiratory illness and my grandmother's battle with breast cancer exposed me even further to the extreme consequences of limited access. They faced many financial barriers and postponed treatment decisions due to unmanageable costs, travel expenses, and a lack of education on how to manage their conditions. 

Due to the massive number of deaths in the city, the burial grounds were completely full. Those who passed, and especially those with no family, were not properly buried or disposed of in rivers. This led my family to travel to Chandpur, a village approximately 5 hours away, to bury my grandparents. In Chandpur, I met a girl who grew up there. She spoke to me about her older sister, who was a domestic worker for a family in the city. Her sister's health began to worsen with frequent coughs and headaches, but they were not addressed for months. She attempted to return home to her family, but passed away on the way in the rickshaw. 

Navigating grief, I realized how interconnected public policy and medicine are. Prevention, interventions, and resource allocation are just as important as treatment alone. Healthcare disparities are carried by families who lose daughters, sons, caregivers, and more, whose lives could have been completely different if they had been given care. In the future of medicine, recognizing barriers, advocating for families, and supporting them in accessing medical care improve the quality of care.

NGOs and organizations such as BRAC or Bangladesh Ain Shohaota Kendro Foundation (BASOK) advocate for social justice, equality, and social empowerment in marginalized communities. Whether families face financial struggles to meet basic needs, access to medications, or women's hygiene materials, or scholarships to support education, non-profit organizations are an incredible starting point for equitable care. Organizations such as AlterYouth focus on supporting children's education through monthly scholarship renewals. Donors are assigned to a family demonstrating need, and students are required to maintain strong academic performance with attendance to continue receiving funding. To engage directly with these communities, join organizations that support the mission, have tangible ways to contribute, and are trustworthy.

Organizations mentioned are linked below:

1. BRAC - https://www.brac.net/

2. Bangladesh Ain Shohaota Kendro Foundation (BASOK) - https://basokfoundation.org/about-us/

3. AlterYouth - https://www.alteryouth.com/