In late July 2024, protests in Bangladesh escalated into a nationwide uprising. Initially peaceful, the movement turned violent with government retaliation, leading to widespread unrest. By mid- August the death toll had risen to over 1,000 according to government sources, with over 20,000 protesters injured, most of them students.
Background
The protests began as peaceful demands from university students to abolish quotas in civil service jobs, following mass unemployment amongst young Bangladeshis, but soon transformed into a wider anti-government movement. Eventually the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, resigned and fled the country, which resulted in further violence. 90 people were killed in one day – the bloodiest demonstration in Bangladesh since gaining independence. Following the violence, mass casualties were reported and the new interim government in Bangladesh requested foreign aid to assist with their overwhelmed healthcare facilities.
After the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested specialised support to address the growing healthcare needs resulting from the unrest, the UK Emergency Medical Team (EMT) deployed two specialists: a rehabilitation consultant and an orthopaedic surgeon consultant, arriving from 1 November.
UK-Med on the ground
During the deployment, the UK-Med team treated 87 people, mostly students who were injured during the uprising, the majority aged between 21 and 30. With the unrest resulting in a lot of injuries, UK-Med prioritised surgery and rehabilitation support.
18 surgeries were carried out by Saba Papuashvili, Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon consultant, most of which were complex, ranging from nerve exploration to bone grafts, following the severe injuries inflicted on the students.
Dima Yasin, Senior Rehabilitation consultant worked with the rehabilitation department to carry out assessments and exercises for all 87 patients. She also procured equipment for functional physical therapy which was then used to set up group therapy sessions for patients with similar injuries.
Speaking about her time in Bangladesh Dima said:
“I focused on empowering the young university students to understand that an injury does not define one’s ability to live independently or actively participate in society. By prioritising functional rehabilitation, we worked to show that disability is not a barrier to functionality.”
UK-Med actively emphasises the importance of rehabilitation to ensure people achieve the best possible outcomes in their recovery by preventing health complications and aiming to reduce the rates of long-term disability.
From Surgery to Recovery
One key element of UK-Med’s life and limb saving work is sharing knowledge and expertise through capacity building. The Ministry of Health and overall health infrastructure lacked the systems in place to cope with the overwhelming need for medical aid. Dima helped to develop plans to support the department in preparing and managing the health care demand in hospitals. This work is vital in ensuring the quality healthcare is delivered in the most efficient way.
Dima explained how through rehabilitation people are able to gain a sense of independence and confidence that often their injuries damage:
“One remarkable example was a student who, despite losing the use of his right arm, refused to let it stop him. He began training himself to use his left hand by purchasing a notebook to practice writing the alphabet and was determined to register for university the next semester.
This journey exemplifies that with the right mindset and support, individuals can regain their independence and contribute fully to their communities regardless of their challenges”
