Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) organised a workshop on “Appropriate Paper-based Technology” at its Mirpur Centre during March, 01-08, 2010. Eighteen participants including nine members from different Non Govermental Organisations (NGOs) joined the workshop. Jenet Ivin and John Carter, from England, conducted the training program. The training was quite easy to make APT items in the home, outside in dry countries or in any community room. The program was very relevant according to the individual practice area, because the devices were made by trainee which had not only therapeutic value but also valuable in terms of recreational activities of the children. Appropriate Paper-based Technology (APbT or APT) is a cost-effective way to produce personally designed assistive device or other objects for use and creativity. Materials are recycled: waste paper, thin card and corrugated cardboard boxes. Flour is used to make the paste and varnish or waterproof paint is helpful to seal the completed items. All that is needed in the way of tools are a kettle or pan to boil water, a suitable receptacle to make the paste, knives and a smooth stick. Once the techniques are mastered endless variations on equipment can be made and a special workshop is not necessary. Representatives from Shishu Polli Plus Handicap International, Shishui Shastho Foundation Health, Autism Child Welfare Foundation Bangladesh, Apon Gaon, Autism Welfare Foundation and Bangladesh Prtibondhi Foundation took part on the workshop Hosneara Perveen, Anima Das, Suma Begum, Ummul Ambia, Iffat Rahaman, Mirja Parvin, Rakib Hussain, Jamil Miah, Rumi Akther joined the program on behalf of CRP..

Delegates from the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) joined a program marking the centennial International Women’s Day at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital on March, 08, 2010. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was present on the occasion as chief guest

Addressing at the ceremony, Sheikh Hasina said her government would repeal the laws discriminatory to women and soon make the National Women Development Policy effective that was formulated during her last tenure between 1996 and 2001.

She also said, political empowerment is very important to increase women’s social dignity. Their contribution to economy should also be ensured. Pointing out that Islam is the only religion where women’s share in property has been ensured.

Hasina said she thinks women should have equal right to property To ensure dignity of women, the premier highlighted two issues — education and employment. In this regard she reiterated the government’s plan to make education up to graduation-level free for all.

Referring to the leader, deputy leader and the opposition leader of the House and five female cabinet members, she said in future, deputy speaker and speaker of parliament would be made from women.

“We will eradicate gender discrimination from Bangladesh by 2021, the golden jubilee of the country’s Independence,” she said.

Hasina in her speech also called for ensuring dormitory facilities for the working women, including garment workers, and day-care centres in the offices.

At the function, the Prime Minister released a postage stamp of taka 5.00 denomination and a first day cover of Taka 6.00 on the occasion of International Women’s Day-2010.

Cabinet members; political leaders, diplomats and people of different organisations were present on the occasion.

A total of 32 members from the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) joined the program

With Minister for Women and Children Affairs Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury in the chair, the inaugural function was also addressed by Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on the ministry Meher Afroz Chumki and acting secretary of the Ministry Razia Begum.

Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) has distributed sewing machines to the trainees who have successfully received training from Madhab Memorial Vocational Training Institute of the organisation.

Seven persons were given sewing machines at a program in the Dining Hall on the 13^th of January, 2010.

Executive Director of CRP Md Emdad Moslem, Senior Human Resources Officer Mohammad Manirul Islam, Assistant Human Resources Officer Shaila Parvin, Communication and Publication Officer Mohammad Rahisul Haque Rois and Assistant Social WorkerTahmina Yesmin Tuli were among others present on the occasion. Ramesh Chandra Halder, Coordinator of Madhab Memorial Vocational Institute conducted the program. Jahangir Alam, Rana Dewan, Amina Begum, Jamal Hossain, Mohammad Abdul Khaleque, Lutfa Begum and Lutfa Akter were given the sewing machines. Training Instructer Veronica Baroi urged the recipients of the sewing machines to continue practice after going back home in order to make them self reliant.   

Executive Director Emdad Moslem advised them to effect the acquired knowledge from the training and sewing machines in their professional lives.    

Delegates from Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) visited the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) on December, 29, 2009 in order to inspect the various activities of the organisation and share their expertise.

Md. Delwar Hossain, Rector of PATC led the eleven members delegation. Tahmina Akther, Director; Sabiha Parveen, Director; Hamida Begum, Director; Mohammad Rezaul Karim, Assistant Director, Md. Azizul Haque, Assistant Director, ASM Obaidullha, Assistant Director, Md. Sabet Ali, Assistant Director, Mohammad Mahbubul Alam Majumder, Assistant Director of BPATC were present on the occasion.

Valerie A Taylor, Founder and Coordinator of the organisation welcomed the delegates warmly. Executive Director Emdad Moslem presented the key features of CRP to the delegates.

They praised the on going services of the organisation and expressed their firm determination to extend all-out cooperation for the progress of CRP with a view to ensuring equal excess of the physically challenged people to the main stream of the society.  Valerie A Taylor thanked the delegates for sharing mutual experiences. Md. Delwar Hossain presented crest to her. Later, they visited different departments of CRP. Publication Officer Mohammad Rahisul Haque Rois and Advocacy and Networking Officer Zinat Afroze were also present in the program.

Nasima Begum
Nasima Begum, a 30 year-old married woman of Dumuria district of Khulna Division was admitted to CRP on Nov. 11th, 2008 at which time she was found to have a pressure sore as well as paralysis.  She is paraplegic because of an accident at her home several months ago.  She is also a victim of persistent domestic abuse from her husband.  When she was first admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis as well. Nasima has a 12 year-old son and a 2 ½ year-old daughter. Her family situation is very disturbing because of disputes over money.
At CRP, Nasima is responding well to treatment and care but she will require surgery.  Her father is not able to contribute any money towards her
treatment costs.  Please consider financial support for Nasima.

Mina Begum
Mina Begum is a 22 year-old single mother from Tangail,  now receiving treatment at CRP, Savar.  She is paraplegic as a result of Transverse Myelitis. Her formerly happy family has been torn apart because of disagreements about her care. Delays in proper attention resulted in pressure sores which are gradually responding to treatment at CRP.   Her husband has gone abroad for work and is neither maintaining contact with Mina nor providing financial support for her and her 18-month old son.  She will need a great deal of support during her treatment and rehabilitation and to prepare her for her future as a paralysed person.

This profile is about the four daughters of Mr. Doziruddin & Mrs. Tahura Begum from Tharkurgaon in
Bangladesh. These four are Parvin, Yesmin, Minu and Banu who each have a physical disability. Their lives are full of tragedy. They have faced enormous difficulties in their daily living due to their poor family condition and social attitudes. Their lower limbs became paralysed for an unknown reason fifteen years ago, resulting in isolation from social activities. Now they are receiving treatment at CRP as outpatients. 

Doziruddin is a day labouror and Tahura Begum is a housewife. They have seven daughters and one son. Due to a financial crisis, Doziruddin abandoned his wife and children in the village ten years before. Tahura is maintaining her family by hard labour. During childhood, Parvin, Yesmin, Minu and Banu were as other children. After completing primary education, they left their study. One of the leading bangla newspapers published an article on the lifestyle of these four sisters and current situation of their family on16 September 2007. After hearing about the family, Mr.Mizanur Rahaman, Chairman, Al-amin group, a kindhearted businessman of the county, visited CRP and discussed how he could help this family. After discussion with CRP’s Social Welfare department, Mr.Rahaman has agreed to bear the expenses of treatment and rehabilitation costs of these four sisters. CRP’s social worker conducted a home visit and arranged to bring them to CRP. 

Parvin, Yesmin, Minu & Banu came to CRP on October 2007. According to the diagnosis, Yesmin has Myopathy & Scoliosis; Banu has Tetraplegia due to severe Kyphoscolosis; Minu has Myopathy & Parvin has Myopathy and Scoliosis. After receiving treatment of two months, their conditions have improved notably. They are using Special Seats produced at CRP’s Special Seating Unit, which provides them more postural support for their individual needs. Among them, Banu can walk with support.  

Like Mr.Rahaman, if others who are financially sound will extend their kind support to the poor disabled people in the country, they will get opportunity for improved quality of life.   

Panna Akter is 15 years old girl from karimganj under Kishorganj district in Bangladesh. She has come to CRP as she was injured by falling down in the slippery area in the river. She was admitted at CRP on 5 September 2007. CRP’s doctor diagnosed her TB spine. At present she is receiving treatment under the supervision of CRP’s Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT). 

Panna’s father Bachchu Mia is a day labour and mother Asma Begum is a housewife. Due to the poor financial condition Panna stopped her study when she was the student of class three. She is very eye-catching and loved to play with her friends. Her favourite hobby is to watch television programme. She has two brothers and one sister. 

Her house is at the bank of the river. One day when Panna went to take bath in the river she had fallen down by slipping foot at the area of the river. After injury she got admitted at kishorgonj SadarHospital, due to the serious condition doctor referred her to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.  

Now her condition is improving notably and doctor hope that she would be able to walk independently in future. Her treatment at CRP is like that of many other desperately poor people in Bangladesh entirely supported by donations.

With the assistant of World Health Organisation (WHO) Bangladesh Health Professions Institute (BHPI), the academic institute of CRP organised a three day long training programmee on ‘Nursing Management on Spinal Cord Injury and its Prevention of Secondary Complecation’ at CRP-Savar from 28 th May 2007. 

Presided over by Captain Khariuddin Barket(Retd), Principle, BHPI , Dr. Aminul Haque, Director, SCDP,was the chief guest and Zahanara Begum, Deputy Director, Nursing Service was the special gust on the inaugural session .CRP’s founder Valerie A Taylor delivered the welcome speech on the proramme. 

Among others Mr. Albert Mollah, CEO (Acting), Dr. Fazlul Hoque, Director, Health Services, Abdus Salam, Director, Rehabilitation were present at the programme. 

At the tender age of six, sportive Ibrahim was playing football with his playmates. One of his playmates pushed him down to the ground and as a consequence Ibrahim got injured and then he was taken to Comilla Sadar Hospital. There, the physician referred him to the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP). He got admitted at CRP on 29th August 2006. Ibrahim is the youngest child out of five children of Md. Abdur Rahim and Roksana Begum. And he comes from Burirchang in Comilla. 

Ibrahim’s two legs were paralysed when he was admitted to CRP and had a spinal problem since his birth. CRP’s Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy department adopted different ways to help cure Ibrahim’s disability. Under their treatment, he can now walk a short distance using a walking frame and can perform all Activities of Daily Living (ADL) using a wheel chair. 

Young Ibrahim plays Ludo at CRP, though his favorite game is still football. He likes beef and rice very much. Ibrahim is very satisfied with the services of CRP, provided to him, and follows the rules and discipline of CRP. Now he passes his time at CRP recalling the sweet memories of his playtime and playmates. Ibrahim wishes to be a physician in future. CRP’s physicians strongly hope and believe that he will be able to walk independently in the very near future.