Local Partners

Grameen Kalyan

One of The Foundation main partners in Bangladesh is Grameen Kalyan, a not for profit organisation that was established by the Grameen Bank. 

Grameen Bank provides group based credit to the rural poor and has more than 1,170 branches in villages throughout the country.

Grameen Kalyan is the health arm of Grameen Bank and provides primary health care and referral services to borrowers from the Grameen Bank and other people living in rural areas. Grameen Kalyan operates thirty primary health care clinics in various central Bangladesh Districts.

Grameen Kalyan has a mandate to provide a least cost solution for health services. It works on a cost recovery model where patients are charged a fee for service. However, it is unique in that it offers micro-credit and micro-health insurance to allow poorer people to use the services.

In addition, the model has a safety net to ensure that the poorest of the poor, those who cannot afford either of these options, are still able to use the health services. 

National Institute of Ophthalmology

The National Institute of Ophthalmology is a new partner of The Fred Hollows Foundation in Bangladesh. This partnership was formalized in February 2007 with the goal to strengthen district government eye care services.

The National Institute of Ophthalmology was established by the Government of Bangladesh in 1979 to improve ophthalmic services across the country. Since this time the National Institute of Ophthalmology has been working to develop skilled man power for ophthalmic services throughout Bangladesh.

As a Tertiary level eye care service, the National Institute of Ophthalmology is the highest referral point for eye care services in Bangladesh. It provides facilities for the screening and treatment of all ophthalmologic patients including specialized services. The Institute is a centre for research as well as a major training facility for doctors, nurses, paramedics and other ancillary personnel on ophthalmology.

In 2006, the National Institute of Ophthalmology performed approximately 5000 surgeries and saw a total of 51,360 patients through the out-patient department. In 2007 the National Institute of Ophthalmology will be shifted to a new, modern building with a 250 bed capacity enabling greater levels of facilities, services and training.