আশা এর সেবা সমূহ
ASA সেবা সমূহঃ
Agribusiness Project
ASA initiated this program to provide support to the potential entrepreneurs and traders of agro-products and farmers. The organization has been operating the program since 2007 under a tripartite agreement among ASA, Bangladesh Government and Asian Development Bank. The emphasis is concentrated on providing credit facilities, enhancing capacity, assisting to create market linkage and offering technical support to the small and medium agro-entrepreneurs, traders and farmers of the country.
Over the years, Agribusiness Program has been extending credit, imparting training on livestock, fisheries and high–value crops to the targeted clients. Furthermore, assistance was offered to them in marketing their products with special attention to the women entrepreneurs. Steps have been taken to support in organizing agro fares and exhibitions and helping the target groups to display their products to the buyers and consumers creating an opportunity for selling products without intervention of middle man. 57,393 clients were provided loan amounting to BDT 3,987.4 million and 691 entrepreneurs and farmers were trained during 2014-15.
Vermicompost Project
This program was launched last year under the Agribusiness Program of ASA to regain soil quality without overuse of chemical fertilizer and to adopt measures for making the environment pollution free through increased use of compost manure in agriculture. Under the program 10 Vermicompost farms cum outlets were established in various places across the country. These farms produce Vermicompost and distribute compost manure to the farmers at a subsidized price. To make the farmers aware of the importance of vermicompost workshops, training sessions, and demonstrations were organized in the grassroots level during 2014-15. People especially the young were encouraged to open Vermicompost farms by offering flexible credit facilities and knowledge support. The initiatives have been benefiting users in creating unemployment and keeping environment free from the further degradation. 13.6 metric tons of vermicompost were produced and distributed among the farmers at a subsidized price during 2015.
Power Tiller Loan Program
ASA initiated Power Tiller Loan Program in 2014 to facilitate overall agriculture development of the country by increasing agri-production with the help of modern technology and equipment. Small, medium, marginal farmers and traders of agri-machineries are offered the loan at reduced service charge. Our country is still lagging behind in agri production compared to that in other countries of the world due to practice of traditional methods in cultivation. This program aims to increase use of machines in farming through providing financial services to the small farmers and traders of Agri-machineries.
During 2015, an amount of BDT 185 million was disbursed as Power Tiller Loan among 2,228 cultivators and traders of agri-machineries across the country.
Mushroom Cultivation Program
ASA launched a new program on Mushroom Cultivation in 2015. The program was undertaken to increase mushroom production and familiarize this to the general consumers utilizing abandoned land, household spaces and thereby generate jobs for the unemployed youths. Edible mushrooms have many herbal qualities that keep human body safe and healthy by preventing various diseases. In spite of having unique herbal features people of our country are not accustomed to use mushroom as a vegetable like other common ones. The production and consumption of mushroom in Bangladesh very insignificant.
Considering both the economic and health aspect of mushroom, ASA started cultivating it on a pilot basis in Gazipur, Manikganj and Dhaka districts. The output of these farms are being sold in the kitchen markets of Dhaka city and the adjacent urban areas. The program has planned to set up five more mushroom farms in different districts by 2016.
Orange Cultivators Support Project
A project has been undertaken by ASA to extend support to the orange cultivators of the country for increasing orange production and thereby generating thrust in the sector for overall development of the country. The project activities include assisting orange cultivators through providing financial and knowledge support for enhancing local production. Under the project 50 orange producers of Chunarughat Upazila in Habigonj district were trained during 2015.
Project on Dairy Farms
ASA took an initiative in 2015 for setting up Dairy farms in every district of the country. This was meant for creating entrepreneurs and developing entrepreneurship among the poor and marginal group, enhancing production of dairy products, making available animal protein, diversifying microfinance products and above all consolidating the means of poverty alleviation. Until 2015, under the project 1,190 entrepreneurs were provided with the financial assistance.
Sanitation Program
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Sanitation Program of ASA is in function to improve the sanitation facilities of the people of the country who are living without proper sanitation facilities. It can be mentioned here that about 40 percent population of Bangladesh are still living without sanitary latrines or may be some of them have sanitary latrines but those are not hygienic to use. This sanitary feature looms as a potential threat to the public health of the country. In the given reality, ASA initiated Sanitary Program to address the aforesaid problems by offering soft loan, training and expertise to the people including users, traders, entrepreneur, masons etc. so that accessibility of sanitary latrines can be expanded to the reach of the marginal people. Under the program, the target people are encouraged and facilitated to produce and install Offset Latrines as this type of latrine is considered as safe, easy to maintain, cheap and befitting to all weathers. The Sanitation Program of ASA has been emphasizing on customize Offset Latrine depending upon the financial ability, environment, and availability of raw materials so that the underprivileged people can access them effortlessly. The program is focusing on the beneath aims: • Innovate befitting latrine technologies and solutions for the poor households and train up the sanitary entrepreneurs, traders and field workers to improve their skill. • Provide loan with flexible terms and with less interest to the sanitary entrepreneurs, traders and users. • Offer soft loan to the poor and low income people for purchasing sanitary latrines. • Transform sanitation business into a social business. The Sanitation Program is working for increasing expertise through facilitating necessary training, inputs by arranging workshops across the country. The program disbursed an amount of BDT 163 million as soft loan to the users and entrepreneurs and also imparted training to 774 entrepreneurs, traders and masons during 2015. Health Assistance ASA operates a charitable program to provide financial grants to the clients, employees and member of their families suffer from chronic diseases for bearing treatment costs. ASA introduced health grant program as a part of its overall people welfare approach emphasizing inclusive welfare of the society. Members of target groups feel more secured as the have opportunity to seek and enjoy the grants. A handsome amount of money provides to the ailing clients, staff and their family members each year by ASA Health Assistance Program. During 2015 an amount of BDT 4 million was awarded as full grants to the deserving individuals. If the above stated individuals affected with the following diseases can appeal the ASA authority for getting financial aid for meeting treatment expenditure. Most of the poor people of our country suffer from perennial health problems as they are compelled to work hard for a living. A significant number of them develop physical disabilities and lose workability because of excessive stress on their body. These disabilities need prolong treatment courses to be cured at high treatment expenses that are beyond their means. Patients in most cases remain untreated for long that results in permanent disability. A huge number of poor and low income people get affected with permanent traumas, paralysis, arthritis, etc leading them into chronic poverty. Physiotherapy Program Physiotherapy Program of ASA was started to serve the people suffering from physical disabilities and traumas. It providesservices across the country by arranging Physiotherapy camps mostly in underdeveloped localities. A number of physiotherapists and nurses deliver the service using modern equipment and medical kits. Under the program 40,000 patients were provided treatment during 2015. |
ASA HEALTH PROGRAM
ASA commenced Health Program with a goal to deliver necessary healthcare services to the people predominantly underprivileged and the poor living in the backward, hard-to-reach and remote areas of the country. Currently, the program covers 58 out of 64 districts of the country providing service to about seven million people.
Aims: To mitigate menace of communicable and non-communicable diseases by early intervention and promoting healthy lifestyle.
Objectives: To reduce the frequency of diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery, pneumonia, jaundice (hepatitis), skin diseases, malnutrition, maternal and infant mortality etc. through providing healthcare service and creating awareness. The following services are currently offered by the ASA Health Program.
- Primary Healthcare Program
- Integrated Health and Education Program
- Health Awareness Program
- Physiotherapy Program
In addition to the above mentioned activities, under the umbrella of ASA Health Program two health centers are also being operated in two districts. These are: Narapati Health Complex, in Habiganj and Kakina Polli Swasthyo Kendro in Lalmonirhat.
Primary Healthcare Program
To facilitate essential healthcare services to the poor ASA sets up 49 Primary Healthcare Centers in backward areas across the country. Each centre has a manpower comprising a Doctor, a Medical Assistant, 4-5 Health Assistants and a dispensary. These Centers are offering primary healthcare service to the patients and necessary medicines at subsidized prices. Besides, some diagnostic facilities are also being provided by these centers. ASA Primary Healthcare Centers, in brief, are offering the following services to the patients.
- Ante natal care (Care of pregnant mother).
- Post natal care (Care of the lactating mother).
- Family planning care.
- Treatment of the common communicable and non-communicable diseases.
- Immunization/Vaccination.
- Health education.
- Emergency care of the patients with injury
- Blood sugar test, Urine sugar test and Pregnancy test.
- Necessary medicine at subsidized rate.
In addition, satellite health camps are often arranged for the patients living far-flung and remote areas.
Integrated Health and Health Education Program
The program has been launched with a view to render primary but essential healthcare services to the doorsteps of the poor and the underprivileged. Six Shastho Sebikas (Health Assistant) work under an ASA Branch to offer health facilities that include measuring blood pressure, checking fever, blood sugar, body weight and especially monitoring growth of children up to five years of age. The Shasotho Sebikas visit the ASA groups thrice in week and render services there. Integrated Health and Health Health Education Program is presently implemented in 210 branches of ASA and 2,05,000 patients were provided treatment and health tips by this program during 2015.
Under this program healthcare facilities delivered to the target people are as follows.
- Checking health and give consultations.
- Checking blood pressure.
- Checking blood sugar.
- Measuring temperature.
- Measuring weight of under five children.
- Following ups patient’s health status.
ASA Health Awareness Program
Health Awareness Program was introduced by ASA in 2010 for making the people aware in maintaining a healthy life by preventing common communicable diseases they generally suffer from. Primarily, the target segment of this program is the group members of ASA. But, people out of ASA group are also getting opportunities to become aware by the program. This program educates the people how to maintain healthy life keeping diseases away. Under the program a topic on healthcare and disease prevention is discussed in the group meetings in each month. That resulted in an enhanced health awareness among seven million people of the country. The following topics have been set to discuss in 12 months of 2016 under the Program.
ASA HEALTH PROGRAM
ASA commenced Health Program with a goal to deliver necessary healthcare services to the people predominantly underprivileged and the poor living in the backward, hard-to-reach and remote areas of the country. Currently, the program covers 58 out of 64 districts of the country providing service to about seven million people.
Aims: To mitigate menace of communicable and non-communicable diseases by early intervention and promoting healthy lifestyle.
Objectives: To reduce the frequency of diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery, pneumonia, jaundice (hepatitis), skin diseases, malnutrition, maternal and infant mortality etc. through providing healthcare service and creating awareness. The following services are currently offered by the ASA Health Program.
- Primary Healthcare Program
- Integrated Health and Education Program
- Health Awareness Program
- Physiotherapy Program
In addition to the above mentioned activities, under the umbrella of ASA Health Program two health centers are also being operated in two districts. These are: Narapati Health Complex, in Habiganj and Kakina Polli Swasthyo Kendro in Lalmonirhat.
Primary Healthcare Program
To facilitate essential healthcare services to the poor ASA sets up 49 Primary Healthcare Centers in backward areas across the country. Each centre has a manpower comprising a Doctor, a Medical Assistant, 4-5 Health Assistants and a dispensary. These Centers are offering primary healthcare service to the patients and necessary medicines at subsidized prices. Besides, some diagnostic facilities are also being provided by these centers. ASA Primary Healthcare Centers, in brief, are offering the following services to the patients.
- Ante natal care (Care of pregnant mother).
- Post natal care (Care of the lactating mother).
- Family planning care.
- Treatment of the common communicable and non-communicable diseases.
- Immunization/Vaccination.
- Health education.
- Emergency care of the patients with injury
- Blood sugar test, Urine sugar test and Pregnancy test.
- Necessary medicine at subsidized rate.
In addition, satellite health camps are often arranged for the patients living far-flung and remote areas.
Integrated Health and Health Education Program
The program has been launched with a view to render primary but essential healthcare services to the doorsteps of the poor and the underprivileged. Six Shastho Sebikas (Health Assistant) work under an ASA Branch to offer health facilities that include measuring blood pressure, checking fever, blood sugar, body weight and especially monitoring growth of children up to five years of age. The Shasotho Sebikas visit the ASA groups thrice in week and render services there. Integrated Health and Health Health Education Program is presently implemented in 210 branches of ASA and 2,05,000 patients were provided treatment and health tips by this program during 2015.
Under this program healthcare facilities delivered to the target people are as follows.
- Checking health and give consultations.
- Checking blood pressure.
- Checking blood sugar.
- Measuring temperature.
- Measuring weight of under five children.
- Following ups patient’s health status.
Primary Education Strengthening Program
Dropout from the primary school is still a barrier in attaining goals of education of Bangladesh as about 27 percent students of primary level are compelled to leave studies before completing grade five. The students dropping out of primary schools by and large belong to the marginal households. Primary Education Strengthening Program (PESP) of ASA was started to address the dropout problem of primary education. The dropout victims are commonly from the poor families as their guardians being mostly illiterate are not conscious enough to support their kids to continue studies.
PESP of ASA provides measures to help those kids by operating learning centers in the backward areas of the country. Under the program, 7,266 Learning Centers have been set up in the underdeveloped localities especially in rural areas across the country. For each Learning Centre, a Sikha-Sebika (mentor) is assigned who provides learning support to 25-30 students through holding a two-hour class/session every day over six days in a week. These classes are conducted at the convenient time of the students before or after of their school hours. Students are aided to organize their daily lessons and homework assigned by the school teachers. In addition, in the learning centers students get involved in extracurricular activities like, singing, dancing, recitation, story-telling, comics, acting etc. once in week that help to build their level of confidence.
A meeting is held every month at each Learning Centre with the participation of guardians, mentor and supervisor. It is necessary to mention that a supervisor has also been assigned to monitor the activities of 15 Learning Centers of PESP. Currently, this program provided teaching-learning service to 3,00,000 students through 10,501 learning centers adjacent to government primary schools in 694 branches of 61 districts
