Australian High Commissioner visits Mymensingh and Jamalpur
The Australian High Commissioner Dr Justin Lee visited Bangladesh’s Mymensingh, Jamalpur and Tangail districts from 22-23 July 2009. Dr Lee opened a new multi-purpose hall at the Joyramkura Nursing Institute and a new community centre/pre-school at Jamalpur. The Australian High Commission contributed funding for both buildings under its Direct Aid Program (DAP) along with other international and local donors.
The Joyramkura Nursing Institute is attached to the Joyramkura Hospital at Halughat in Mymensingh district. It trains mostly poor, tribal Garo women through a four-year diploma course for a career in nursing. After opening the new hall, the High Commissioner also visited the Joyramukura Hospital and discussed local health issues with doctors and staff.
The Jamalpur community centre and pre-school is run by a local NGO called Symbiosis, and will be used to provide training and education to the poorest people living in nearby communities. Vocational skills such as sewing and computer literacy will be taught at the centre among other courses, which also doubles as a refuge from flooding.
While in Mymensingh, Jamalpur and Tangail, the High Commissioner visited a number of Symbiosis’ development projects, including fish farming and other rural income generation activities. He also spoke with womens’ saving groups set up to raise funds for development and visited Symbiosis’ small schools providing tuition to children who cannot afford formal education.
Dr Lee congratulated staff at both the Joyramkura Hospital and of Symbiosis for their dedication and commitment to help some of Bangladesh’s most disadvantaged people. He commended the self-help approach of Symbiosis and encouraged both staff and the local people to keep up their efforts.
Australian High Commission, Dhaka, 24 July 2009
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