Bangladesh Group Helps COVID-19 Patients
2020-06-28
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1When her father became infected with the coronavirus, Sumona Khanom struggled to find a bed for him at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
2The hospital was already crowded with too many patients.
3This was not her only struggle.
4Her family did not have enough money to buy food.
5And she was extremely tired.
6But then, some comfort came.
7Volunteers working for the Bidyanondo Foundation brought her family a gift basket.
8It was filled with fruit -- mangoes, lychees, oranges, apples, and lemons -- as well as other food.
9There was also a get-well card for her father.
10It read, "We are here to stand by you."
11The Bidyanondo Foundation, established in 2013, is known for its food assistance programs for street children and the poor.
12Now it is also known for building awareness of COVID-19 in the community.
13Its name, Bidyanondo, means "learn for fun."
14The foundation began supporting COVID victims after hearing news reports of abuse of victims, or hostility toward them.
15One family abandoned an old woman in a forest near their home.
16They feared she was infected with the coronavirus.
17In another incident, a father came home from work with a high temperature.
18His family did not take him to a hospital.
19Instead, they locked him in his room, where he died.
20Other families have refused to take bodies for burial.
21Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her regret about incidents like these in a speech in Parliament.
22The Bidyanondo Foundation's Salman Khan Yeasin said "those news reports are very shocking."
23He said that usually when someone becomes sick, relatives gather at the hospital.
24But this time, he added, is different.
25Foundation officials said families should understand how important it is to support those fighting COVID-19.
26This is the time when they need their family the most.
27On its website, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States says stigma surrounding sickness is not uncommon.
28CDC experts explain that fear about a disease can lead to social stigma.
29They add that a person who has recovered from COVID-19 or has been released from quarantine can also be stigmatized.
30Yeasin said that "in this time of corona(virus), humanity" is slowly disappearing.
31To fight the stigma surrounding COVID-19, the foundation said it wants to demonstrate ways to treat those infected with more kindness and humanity.
32The foundation depends mostly on crowdfunding. It has built a partnership with the military, military agencies and about 80 other groups across Bangladesh.
33Since June 1, the group has given out about 1,400 gift baskets.
34In March, the Dhaka Tribune reported that the foundation was giving out protective supplies such as face masks and hand cleaner.
35Yeasin said that the first responsibility of the foundation is to support patients and build awareness.
36However, it does not want doctors and other health workers to be forgotten.
37"Many health workers are staying outside home, away from their families to provide health care," he said.
38"We wanted to thank them. They also need mental support."
39So, the foundation has sent health care workers thank you cards.
40One reads: "We become brave to do more (for people) seeing your efforts, we know you will continue [to] fight to save our lives if we become ill tomorrow."
41Many support Bidyanondo's efforts. Sumona Khanom said she is thankful that the foundation has come forward to help her father.
42"I hope," she said, "they would come forward to help all other fathers."
43I'm Anna Matteo.
1When her father became infected with the coronavirus, Sumona Khanom struggled to find a bed for him at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The hospital was already crowded with too many patients. 2This was not her only struggle. Her family did not have enough money to buy food. And she was extremely tired. But then, some comfort came. 3Volunteers working for the Bidyanondo Foundation brought her family a gift basket. It was filled with fruit -- mangoes, lychees, oranges, apples, and lemons -- as well as other food. There was also a get-well card for her father. It read, "We are here to stand by you." 4The Bidyanondo Foundation, established in 2013, is known for its food assistance programs for street children and the poor. Now it is also known for building awareness of COVID-19 in the community. Its name, Bidyanondo, means "learn for fun." 5The foundation began supporting COVID victims after hearing news reports of abuse of victims, or hostility toward them. 6One family abandoned an old woman in a forest near their home. They feared she was infected with the coronavirus. In another incident, a father came home from work with a high temperature. His family did not take him to a hospital. Instead, they locked him in his room, where he died. Other families have refused to take bodies for burial. 7Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her regret about incidents like these in a speech in Parliament. 8The Bidyanondo Foundation's Salman Khan Yeasin said "those news reports are very shocking." He said that usually when someone becomes sick, relatives gather at the hospital. But this time, he added, is different. 9Foundation officials said families should understand how important it is to support those fighting COVID-19. This is the time when they need their family the most. 10On its website, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States says stigma surrounding sickness is not uncommon. CDC experts explain that fear about a disease can lead to social stigma. They add that a person who has recovered from COVID-19 or has been released from quarantine can also be stigmatized. 11Yeasin said that "in this time of corona(virus), humanity" is slowly disappearing. To fight the stigma surrounding COVID-19, the foundation said it wants to demonstrate ways to treat those infected with more kindness and humanity. 12The foundation depends mostly on crowdfunding. It has built a partnership with the military, military agencies and about 80 other groups across Bangladesh. 13Since June 1, the group has given out about 1,400 gift baskets. In March, the Dhaka Tribune reported that the foundation was giving out protective supplies such as face masks and hand cleaner. 14Yeasin said that the first responsibility of the foundation is to support patients and build awareness. However, it does not want doctors and other health workers to be forgotten. 15"Many health workers are staying outside home, away from their families to provide health care," he said. "We wanted to thank them. They also need mental support." 16So, the foundation has sent health care workers thank you cards. One reads: "We become brave to do more (for people) seeing your efforts, we know you will continue [to] fight to save our lives if we become ill tomorrow." 17Many support Bidyanondo's efforts. Sumona Khanom said she is thankful that the foundation has come forward to help her father. 18"I hope," she said, "they would come forward to help all other fathers." 19I'm Anna Matteo. 20The AP reported this story. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English, using addition information from the CDC and the Dhaka Tribune. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 21_________________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23comfort -n. a state or feeling of being less worried, upset, frightened, etc., during a time of trouble or emotional pain : -v. to cause (someone) to feel less worried, upset, frightened, etc. 24get-well card -n. a greeting card sent to a person who is unwell, expressing a wish for a speedy recovery 25abandon - v. to leave and never return 26stigma - n. a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something 27humanitarian - adj. a person who works to make other people's lives better : humane : humanity 28quarantine -n. the period of time during which a person who has a disease being kept away from others 29crowdfunding - n. the practice of obtaining needed funding (as for a new business) by soliciting contributions from a large number of people especially from the online community