The Compound

Around 1960, while Victor Barnard was working among Bangladesh's tribal peoples his daughter, Mary, fell gravely ill and desperately needed a surgeon.  But there wasn't one for 400 miles (until Dhaka) and Mary did not make it. 

Thus, in response to this need the hospital was established, fortuitously, in 1966. This was just 5 years before Bangladesh’s war for independence from Pakistan (which everyone refers to as “the War” and looked at me blankly when I asked which one).  Between May and December, when Pakistan surrendered, millions of people lost their lives and many became permanently disfigured due to land mines. During the war, many of the doctors sent their families home and stayed behind to treat the wounded, for which the community remains grateful.  The hospital still has a talented prosthetics department which can make prostheses for about $20 which is insanely cheap.

The war left behind many widows and orphans, with essentially no way of providing for themselves, and this is why the hospital has a craft shop attached to it named Heart House.  About 40 ladies still work at the house making dolls, blankets (they claim there is a cold season :0), small hand crafts, and salwar/kamiz and saris (traditional dress with the mid abdomen showing).

The original hospital and outpatient clinic, where I have spent most of my time (no babies for me yet), are sizable but the new facility is downright impressive.  Josiah will be heading over there later today to measure doors so they can match the doors to the various hinge and handle heights (no standardization here :0).

Total, I would estimate the size of the compound at between ½ and ¾ square miles.  It houses about 18 families and singles who work at the hospital along with a primary school, health sciences college, and various other outbuildings. Just like the country of Bangladesh, no space is wasted and everything used to serve well.