During our time on the ships I filmed a woman having a cataract removed and a boy being treated for a wound on his foot and another treated for burns on his arm. These aren’t people who have suffered a major epidemic, it’s not HIV/AIDS, or even mosquito-spread malaria. It is relatively basic care they need to receive and wouldn’t without these ships and the people who work on them.
A few days later we went to stay on another ship moored about an hour away on another char. The doctor in charge on the ship, Dr. James, is young, smart and incredibly committed. So much so, that he brought his wife and 18-month-old son to live on the ship with him. He could have worked in the city and made a lot more money but chose to live on the boat for a year. We asked why and his answer was simple. Paraphrasing: the need is too great and the immense gratitude from those who live here is why. Several doctors told us that. But, I think also, life is so chaotic in Dhaka, the doctor’s need a break too.
Meanwhile, the government is too disorganized and corrupt to create programs such as this. Although, we were told they did try apparently, they built a medical facility here in this village (the only brick structure for miles), and then promptly closed it. No one knows why.
We left the ship to visit another char. You could see something floating in the water, I thought it was waste. Later I found out it was actually sand from the chars, it — the islands — disintegrate in small chunks into the water. The scene though, makes you think that if the Moon had lakes and rivers today, this is what it would look like.
On this char, the NGO Friendship has been able to set up a primary school and a weaving school for local women. The primary source of work here is agriculture and during the monsoon season, which starts in March, much of the area seen here is completely flooded.
And, somehow they continue to live, weave and go to school here.
Next: Getting to Dhaka is dangerous, but getting out of Dhaka…