StanChart, icddr,b join hands to boost rural healthcare

Standard Chartered Bangladesh has partnered with icddr,b to donate and distribute 80 high-capacity oxygen concentrators to rural healthcare facilities across Dhaka, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Mymensingh and Khulna.

The initiative seeks to address oxygen shortages in underserved areas, particularly for treating secondary respiratory complications among infants and young children aged 6 to 24 months, according to a press release.

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Enamul Huque, chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Bangladesh, and Tahmeed Ahmed, executive director of icddr,b, signed the agreement at a ceremony in Dhaka recently.

“Access to timely and appropriate healthcare is essential, particularly for communities living in areas where healthcare resources are limited,” Enamul said.

“Through this partnership with icddr,b, we are supporting rural healthcare facilities with essential equipment that can strengthen their capacity to provide oxygen support when needed.”

Tahmeed said many private and NGO-run hospitals face inadequate oxygen infrastructure, high costs of oxygen concentrators and rising demand for oxygen therapy, particularly among vulnerable and low-income groups.

“Standard Chartered Bangladesh’s donation is critical to addressing this gap in oxygen availability and supporting improved patient outcomes across Bangladesh,” he said.

Healthcare facilities are difficult to access in remote areas, while uninterrupted medical oxygen remains a major challenge, particularly during outbreaks of respiratory illnesses.

The oxygen concentrators will enable frontline healthcare providers to deliver timely, life-saving treatment to underserved communities and strengthen local healthcare resilience.

icddr,b, a globally renowned health research organisation with expertise in community-based healthcare and field implementation, will oversee the distribution, installation and post-deployment management of the concentrators to ensure effective utilisation and long-term sustainability.