Rural Health and Development Society

Profile | Overview | History & Background

Aims & Objectives | Present Programs | Project Areas | Activities

Facilities | Training | Partners & Memberships

Profile

Organization Rural Health & Development Society
Acronym RHDS
Office Address

16/A-3, 2nd Floor ,  Block- F, Ring Road,

Mohammadpur, Dhaka –1207.
Mailing Address G. P. O. BOX NO: 2360, DHAKA – 1000
Telephone

+880 2-9128565
Fax +880 2-9560536
Mobile 0173030208
Email rhds@dhaka.agni.com
Founding

1982, D haka

Key Contact Dr.M.M. Hossain (Chief Executive)
Registration

Registered with the bureau of NGO of affairs,Govt. of Bangladesh bearing registration F.D. no-674, Dated 20th December 1992 .

Overview

RHDS is a national organization with regional offices in Munshiganj, Narayanganj district and Mirpur, Dhaka apart from our head office in Mohammedpur, Dhaka . In total, we are covering fourteen Thanas of Bangladesh, performing many social works with great commendation. Many of the projects are of our own innovation and many projects are being done with the government agencies and other partner NGOs. Therefore, RHDS is very competent in carrying out the various activities under the projects because it has capable staff under its fold who are trained in numerous aspects of community development work.

History and Background

The Chief Executive, Dr. M. M. Hossain, by virtue of being in the medical profession, came in contact directly with the poor sections of the society. He was visibly moved by the helpless and hopeless condition of the poor and destitute women of the society. He resolved to do something for the poor sections of the society, who had no clothing, food and shelter let alone education. They were suffering from various diseases and malnutrition. His dream was materialized, when in 1982 RHDS was formed with the active help and co-operation of some committed, dedicated and energetic social workers, such as doctors, teachers, journalists and philanthropists. He had to take enormous personal pains, to save the organization from extinction because of fund shortages and other reasons.

But with personal care, hard work, sincerity and devotion, RHDS can be proud of having survived the most crucial and slippery phase of its existence. Although not all his dreams and visions have been materialized, we have the satisfaction of being of some help to the poor group members of Abdullahpur union of Munshganj district and of Shoronkhola union of Bagerhat district where all our group members are women. At present, RHDS is covering 14 thanas in 3 districts.

We started our micro credit program from 1993. A generous grant from The Royal Netherlands Embassy coupled with the Micro Credit Program has put us on a solid footing. We feel proud to be the constant partners of CUP, UNDP, UNICEF, NGO Forum and Directorate of Mass Education (NFE program) who have chosen us as one of their dependable partners to carry out their various programs. Initially, we started our programs in the health sector. In the year 1997, we became a member of Fisheries Research Institute. Thereafter, in the year 1998 we extended our activities in the non-formal education program and WATSAN sector. This was followed by the STD HIV/AIDS program for the floating sex workers in the year 2001. In the year 2003 we have become the partner of Water Aid Bangladesh .

Aims and Objectives

  1. The create awareness among the members of the groups about their present condition including their family life, human rights, social justice and economic condition.
  2. To ensure participation of destitute women in increasing their family income and their role in the society, through training facilities and income generating programs by establishing credit and cooperative activities for their savings and support and increasing the empowerment of the women.
  3. To increase literacy rate of the group members and to develop group dynamism for concerted efforts in improving their learning capacity, and their economic condition.
  4. To motivate the group members to take part in family planning, improve their nutritional status, to save them from various infectious diseases including STD HIV/AIDS.
  5. To arrange permanent shelters and to carry emergency flood relief for during natural disasters the uprooted people   with the help of Donor and funding agencies.
  6. To improve environmental sanitation and controlling of pollution through sustainable garbage collection and recycling programs in the residential areas and slum.
  7. To improve the water, health, hygiene, environmental and sanitation condition of the rural and urban areas including the slums in the urban areas.

Present Programs

Program, by region

Thana District Activity
Tungibari Munshiganj Watsan, Credit, Arsenic mitigation, Nutritional Surveillance
Munshigonj Sadar Munshiganj Watsan, Credit, Arsenic mitigation
Dhanmondi Dhaka Watsan, Environmental pollution
Mohammedpur Dhaka Credit, STD/HIV/AIDS, Solid waste disposal, clinic & health care services
Hazaribagh Dhaka Credit, STD/HIV/AIDS, Solid waste disposal, clinic & health care servicees, water, sanitation
Ramna Dhaka STD/HIV/AIDS
Tejgoan Dhaka STD/HIV/AIDS
Mirpur Dhaka STD/HIV/AIDS
Narayanganj Sadar Naryanganj Watsan, Credit
Bakshiganj Jamalpur Non-formal education
Shorankhola Bagerhat Watsan
Alamdanga Chuadanga Watsan, Arsenic Mitigation
Chuadanga Sadar Chuadanga Watsan, Arsenic Mitigation
Katwali Dhaka STD/HIV/AIDS
Motijheel Dhaka STD/HIV/AIDS

Activities

Facilities & Equipment

Computers 8
File cabinets 10
Typewriters 2
Almirah 15
Motorcycles 1
Bicycles 10
Tables 16
Chairs 60
Fans 11
Med/Path Instruments 1 set
Ultrasonogram 1
X-ray machine 1
ECG 1

Office Space

Head Office Dhaka Rented Pucca Building , 1200sq. ft.
Project Office Munshigan Rented Pucca Building , 800 sq. ft.
Project Office Narayanganj Rented Pucca Building, 800 sq. ft.
Project office Mirpur Rented Pucca Building, 800 sq ft.

Trainings Facilities

Training hall for 50 persons   1
Printer   4
Scanner    1
Overhead projector   1
Electronic still projector 1
Video Camera     1
Video Monitor   1
Projector Screen   1
White Board 4
Flip chart     24
Black Board     50
TV    1
VCP  1
WATSAN Tools   5
Solid waste management module   1
Gender training module -LTG (ToT)    1
Accounts management training module  1
Financial management training module    1

Trainings Performed

Membership in Networks & Professional Groups

NGO FORUM FOR DRINKING WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION WATSAN Member

Coalition for Urban Poor (CUP) 

WATSAN/Environment /Human rights Member
Voluntary Health Services Society (VHSS)   Health Member
Credit and Development Forum (CDF) Microcredit Member
Bangladesh Habitat Council (BHC) Habitation Member

National Co ordination Council of Anti Drug NGO’S 

Anti-drug Member

Directorate of Non-Formal Education, GOB (DNFE)

 Education Partner

UNICEF  

WATSAN Partner
The Royal Netherlands Embassy, Dhaka Health, education, microcredit Partner
Embassy of Japan STD HIV/AIDS Partner

UNDP/LIFE

 WATSAN & Environment Partner

BCAS  

Good governance Member

Garbage Forum  

Environment Member

 Association For Poverty Alleviation (APA)  

Poverty Alleviation Member

Proshika

 Social mobilization, Microcredit, Human rights, Good governance Partner

Dhaka Social Mobilization Network (DSMN)

 Social Mobilisation Partner

Steps Towards Development (STD)

 Gender Issues, Human rights, Good governance Member

Dhaka Development Forum

 Gender Issues, Human rights, Good governance Member

Hellen Keller International

 Nutrition/Anemia Partner

Water Aid Bangladesh

WATSAN, Gender, Capacity building Partner

Return to Connect-Bangladesh