Winter woes: rising cold and growing health concerns

As January 2025 came to an end, February brought with it a sharper winter chill, and along with it a surge in seasonal health issues.

Over the past two Fridays we have seen an influx of over 200 patients at the free clinic in Baishmouja. The rising number of sick children in particular deeply touches our hearts. Their suffering reminds us of the responsibility we carry to make sure they receive proper care, something we can never take lightly.

What the cold does here

Winter in Brahmanbaria is short but it is sharp, and it lands on households with thin walls, no heating and no spare bedding. The clinic sees the result within days: coughs and chest infections in small children, joint pain in the elderly, and skin complaints across every age group. None of it is complicated to treat. All of it gets worse if it is left because a consultation costs money the family does not have.

Warmth as well as medicine

The same weeks saw our winter blanket distribution, which reached 65 families across Krishnanagar and Birgaon Unions on 13 January. The two programs are deliberately linked. A blanket prevents the illness that the clinic would otherwise treat a fortnight later, and the clinic register tells us which households need a blanket most.

Our commitment

Addressing these health concerns is more than just a duty; it is a commitment to the well-being of our community. With continued effort, compassion and support, we strive to bring relief to those in need.

What a cold-season Friday looks like

The queue starts forming before the doors open and does not clear until well after two. Two doctors work through it without a break. The dispensing table runs down faster than in any other month, because a chest infection needs a full course rather than a single dose, and because families who would normally treat a cough at home bring the child in when it has gone on for a fortnight.

Most of what walks through the door is simple. It becomes serious only when it is left, and it is left because a paid consultation costs a day's wages. That is the entire case for a clinic that charges nothing, and February is the month when the case makes itself.

Join us as we work towards a healthier, warmer tomorrow, one act of care at a time.