Eastern Bank PLC has entered into a strategic partnership with the Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation to reinforce medical support for underprivileged patients living with thalassaemia, one of the country’s most prevalent hereditary blood disorders.
The collaboration forms part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme and is designed to strengthen clinical capacity at the Foundation’s treatment facilities in Dhaka. The formal handover ceremony took place at the bank’s head office, where Ziaul Karim, Head of Communications and External Affairs at Eastern Bank, presented a cheque to Professor Dr Syeda Masooma Rahman, Vice-Chairman of the Foundation.
Modernising Critical Care Infrastructure
Under the agreement, Eastern Bank will finance the procurement and installation of specialised medical equipment aimed at modernising blood storage and transfusion services. The equipment includes refrigerated centrifuges, platelet incubators and agitators, plasma freezers, and whole blood refrigerators. These devices are essential for ensuring the safe separation, preservation, and transfusion of blood components—procedures that are vital for patients who require lifelong, regular transfusions.
Thalassaemia patients often depend on transfusions every two to four weeks to maintain adequate haemoglobin levels. Inadequate storage conditions or outdated equipment can compromise blood safety and reduce treatment efficacy. By upgrading laboratory and storage systems, the initiative is expected to improve both clinical outcomes and operational efficiency.
The key areas of support are summarised below:
| Area of Support | Equipment Funded | Expected Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Component Separation | Refrigerated centrifuges | Improved precision in separating blood components |
| Platelet Preservation | Platelet incubators and agitators | Enhanced viability and safety of platelet units |
| Plasma Storage | Plasma freezers | Stable long-term plasma preservation |
| Whole Blood Storage | Whole blood refrigerators | Safer transfusion and reduced wastage |
Addressing a National Health Burden
Thalassaemia remains a significant public health challenge in Bangladesh. Medical estimates suggest that between 6 and 12 per cent of the population are carriers of the gene responsible for the disorder. Thousands of children are born each year with transfusion-dependent forms of the condition, placing substantial emotional and financial strain on families, particularly those from low-income backgrounds.
Professor Rahman remarked that the partnership would substantially enhance treatment capabilities and offer renewed hope to affected children and their families. She emphasised that access to modern transfusion infrastructure is critical for reducing complications and improving life expectancy.
Ziaul Karim noted that investment in life-saving healthcare infrastructure reflects Eastern Bank’s broader commitment to sustainable community development. He added that targeted interventions in high-burden health sectors can generate long-term social value.
The ceremony was attended by senior representatives from both organisations, including officials overseeing human resources, finance, donor relations, information systems, and treasury operations, underscoring the institutional importance attached to the initiative.
Through this partnership, Eastern Bank and the Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation aim to strengthen the continuum of care for vulnerable patients and contribute to a more resilient healthcare ecosystem in Bangladesh.