People of cyclone-hit areas make turnaround with visible changes

Many Sidr, Aila and Mahasen-affected villages in Sadar upazila have made a turnaround as the people there are now facilitated with tube-wells, sanitation, and maternal and child healthcare services, thanks to a project run by Max Foundation, reports UNB from Patuakhali.
“There was no tube-well in the area. We had to fetch drinking water from two kilometers away - Basakbazar. Those days are gone,” said Hanufa Akter, 35, a resident of Kalikapur union of the upazila. Around 50 families of Hanufa’s village are now fetching water from tube-wells.
Unnayan Shahojogy Team (UST) with the assistance from the Netherlands-based Max Foundation set up tube-wells in the area in November last year.
This correspondent found similar scenario during a recent visit to other areas, including Jaintika, Morichbunia, Awliapur and Bhutumia in the upazila.
Rahima Begum, 55, another beneficiary of tube-well in the village, said apart from the tube-well, UST has been carrying out different other services related to maternal and child healthcare and sanitation.
Kohinur Begum, 30, of Bollobpur village under Kalikapur union, said health awareness programmes of UST are greatly benefiting the local residents.
Sathi Begum, 32, and Helena Begum, 36, of the same village said they are solving various problems themselves by group works with the assistance of the UST officials.
Shah Mohammad Anwar Kamal, executive director of UST, said the major concerns in the area after Sidr, Aila and Mahasen were scarcity of pure drinking water, maternal and child healthcare and sanitation.
“We have taken up different awareness programmes regarding theses in the areas with the help of Max Foundation,” he added.

People of cyclone-hit areas make turnaround with visible changes

Many Sidr, Aila and Mahasen-affected villages in Sadar upazila have made a turnaround as the people there are now facilitated with tube-wells, sanitation, and maternal and child healthcare services, thanks to a project run by Max Foundation, reports UNB from Patuakhali. There was no tube-well in the area. We had to fetch drinking water from two kilometers away - Basakbazar. Those days are gone, said Hanufa Akter, 35, a resident of Kalikapur union of the upazila. Around 50 families of Hanufas village are now fetching water from tube-wells. Unnayan Shahojogy Team (UST) with the assistance from the Netherlands-based Max Foundation set up tube-wells in the area in November last year. This correspondent found similar scenario during a recent visit to other areas, including Jaintika, Morichbunia, Awliapur and Bhutumia in the upazila. Rahima Begum, 55, another beneficiary of tube-well in the village, said apart from the tube-well, UST has been carrying out different other services related to maternal and child healthcare and sanitation. Kohinur Begum, 30, of Bollobpur village under Kalikapur union, said health awareness programmes of UST are greatly benefiting the local residents. Sathi Begum, 32, and Helena Begum, 36, of the same village said they are solving various problems themselves by group works with the assistance of the UST officials. Shah Mohammad Anwar Kamal, executive director of UST, said the major concerns in the area after Sidr, Aila and Mahasen were scarcity of pure drinking water, maternal and child healthcare and sanitation. We have taken up different awareness programmes regarding theses in the areas with the help of Max Foundation, he added.