The Smiling Sun Franchise Program (SSFP) laid the foundation stone, starting the construction of a Smiling Sun Clinic building in the coastal area of Anowara in Chittagong on February 13, 2010.  Karnafuly Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO) has agreed to contribute donate the building construction, as well as some equipment, as part of their CSR effort. Mr. Nurul Islam Choudhury, an active community member,  donated the land worth Taka forty lakh.

 

The local MP Mr. Akteruzzaman Choudhury (Babu), who is also Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Jute and Textile Ministry, inaugurated the foundation stone laying ceremony and unveiled the plaque.  Mr. Salahddinn Ahmed, CEO, KAFCO, Mr. Khairul Alam Azad, Chief Operation Officer, KAFCO, Juan Carlos Negrette, COP of SSFP, Prof. Dr. Mir Samsur Rahaman, Executive Committee member of FDSR, local Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Upazila Health and Family Welfare Officer were present, among others, in the inaugural ceremony.

 

Speakers at the inaugural ceremony said that the clinic will be able to provide health and family planning services to 350,000 people in the coastal areas living in the  Anowara Upazila. They also expressed their gratitude to the land donor for his noble gesture. Around 800 people from the local community attended the inaugural program. At present, the Anwara Clinic is located in Bot -toli on a rented house and expected to shift to the new building by October 2010.

After a major renovation and maintenance work, SSFP has launched its clinic in Ramu last February 17, 2010.  The facelift gave the Ultra clinic a new look that joyfully displayed the Smiling Sun brand. Dr. Kajal Kanti Borua, Civil Surgeon of Cox’s Bazar inaugurated the program as the chief guest. Mr. Jonathan Simon, Senior Vice President of Chemonics International, Juan Carlos Negrette, COP of SSFP and Mr. Jules Lampell, COP of PRICE were present as special guests. After inaugurating the clinic, the guests visited the facilities and participated in a festive rally, organized by the clinic staff. Over 500 local people attended it.

 

 

A part of the program, there was a discussion session chaired by Mr. Shohel Sarwar Kajal, Upazilla Chairman of Ramu. He promised to provide all necessary support and invited the local community to consider Smiling Sun clinic as their first choice for health services. As part of the launching program, there were also a Healthy Baby show and a reception for newlywed couples.

 

On the inaugural day the Ramu clinic, which is operated by FDSR, served 180 customers. This beautiful clinic, has a wide range of service delivery including child health, maternal health including Safe Delivery, Family Planning (short and long methods), as well as general health and diagnostic services. It was the first clinic in which SSFP piloted government’s Demand Side Financing (DSF) program. The clinic has gained over 47% cost recovery from the service income which is higher than the previous year.

Smiling Sun Franchise Program (SSFP) broke the ground for the construction of a Smiling Sun Clinic in the cyclone affected area of Sharonkhola in Bagherhat. CEMEX Cement (Bangladesh) Limited has contributed over $28,000 for the construction of the clinic. In a great display of partnership, the Chairman of CRC, the implementing NGO, has donated the land for this purpose only.

 

Alhaj Dr. Mozammel Hossain, MP, laid the foundation stone at a function on February 8, 2010, as chief guest.  Jim Griffin, Project Director, SSFP, Chemonics International and Juan Carlos Negrette, Chief of Party of SSFP were special guests on the occasion. Dr. F.M. Shahjahan Ali, Deputy Director, Family Planning, Mr. Nasir Uddin Akon, Ex Upazila Chairman of Sharonkhola and Begum Rebecca Khatun, Upazila FP Officer of Sharonkhola, were present among others.

 

The Chief Guest, Alhaj Dr. Mozammel Hosain appreciated USAID, Chemonics and Smiling Sun Franchise Program for helping the community in Sharonkhola and mentioned that they will all be remembered. He stressed the importance of safe deliveries at the community level and the need to have such a clinic as Shurjer Hashi. Local guests commented that they were excited and happy about this initiative and hoped that it will bring improved health services to the community.

 

In mid November 2007 when cyclone SIDR hit Bangladesh , and caused huge damage and loss of life, CEMEX workers around the globe felt compelled to stand in solidarity with the cyclone affected and decided to contribute from their own savings to help the victims overcome the consequence of this terrible natural disaster.

 

The existing clinic is now located in a wooden structure with a tin roof, which was partly damaged during SIDR. To continue providing quality services to this community, it is necessary to have a sturdier clinic building. After completion of the construction work, the clinic will move to the new cement and brick structure which can better withstand a cyclone.

 

The event ended by tree plantation at the new land of the clinic by the guests.