Sydney girls strive to save tiny lives

Local organisation Probasy donates two new incubators to a hospital in Dhaka

Imagine being a new mother on a cold winter’s night in a third world country. Imagine giving birth to a premature baby and being told that 9 out of the 11 incubators in the neonatal care ward are malfunctioning. Imagine being told that your precious newborn baby is now in line behind twenty other precious newborns waiting for two incubators. Imagine 24 newborn babies dying because there were not enough incubators. This is no surreal imagining. It is the harsh reality of one night at the Dhaka Medical College in Bangladesh. A reality that Sydney organisation Probasy is striving to change. As Probasy volunteers, we were saddened to hear that while we enjoy the luxuries of a first world country, innocent lives are lost due to the lack of neonatal care and awareness in Bangladesh. We resolved to raise awareness of neonatal care and malfunctioning equipment, and focused our attention on providing a feasible solution that would have continued effects long after our project is complete.

To this end, Probasy held several events throughout the year to fundraise and spread awareness. We held a stall at the annual Bengali book fair in Ashfield, and a walkathon titled ‘walk 4 a cause’ in Glenfield, in which many adults participated as a way of improving their fitness as well as donating to the cause. We were joined by our local MP Laurie Ferguson, as well as the Mayor of Campbelltown. Probasy then held a Mother’s Day movie screening event at which an iconic Bangla film Deya neya was played, raising over $1000 in ticket and snack sales. By mid-year, Probasy had reached the halfway mark and were looking for ideas to fundraise. A charity BBQ at Parramatta Park raised another $1,000, and suddenly the team was only $1,000 away from their goal.

At this time, I happened to be speaking to a friend’s father about Probasy and he in turn told his friend. They are both members of the Bangladeshi Australian Welfare Society, and together they encouraged the society to donate $1,000 to Probasy to help us reach our goal. We are really grateful for all the love and support we have received from family, friends and wellwishers. We now have sufficient funds to purchase two open incubators (warmers) and two phototherapy units to donate to the Bongobondhu Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. We will continue to fundraise for and raise awareness of social and wellness issues affecting those in need. If you have any ideas or initiatives we can help with please let us know.

Probasy is a not-for-profit organisation founded and run by girls in the Sydney area who have a passion to give back to their community. Probasy is currently in its 11th year of operation with a total collection of approximately $45,000 (approx. TK. 37 lakh) to date. It has had a successful run of campaigns and projects, thanks to the consistent and energetic efforts from its members. Previous projects successfully completed include raising $10,000 for the Queensland flood appeal and $5000 to fund 28 fistula operations in Bangladesh, among other smaller fundraising efforts focused on Australian events and charities, as well as abroad. www.probasy.com

Probasy is working to create a society free of exploitation, discrimination and gender based violence that supports the disadvantaged in achieving their full potential. It aims to provide support and empowerment to disadvantaged women and children in Bangladesh, with special emphasis on their health and wellbeing.

Shafeen Mustaq