FAED Annual Report 2024

Annual Report 2024 The Foundation for Advancement of Essential Diagnostics (FAED)

At a Glance FAED Highlights

Projects & Collaborations

2024 Milestones 



Our Model and Processes 

Our People Looking Ahead

Foreword 

Mustafa Barbhuiya, PhD Founder Director

"The impact we dream to make in every patient’s life drives every effort we make. If we stay true to our values and remain tenacious in our resolve, the future of healthcare delivery is ours for the taking.”

This year marked the six year anniversary of the foundation. During the year 2024, the FAED in India achieved several milestones. The team FAED in Guwahati has been conducting needs and gaps assessment of diagnostic access across health systems in India. The collaborative works expanded to the states of Tripura, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh through our collaborative partners.

FAED has continued efforts in identifying anemia hot spots in several poverty stricken districts in Assam and developing intervention models based on the recommendations of ‘Anemia Mukt Bharat’ campaigns and other scientific intervention models. Our efforts to end TB through screen, diagnose and appropriately treat the TB patients remain a cornerstone to eliminate TB from India. The immediate healthcare and medical relief provided by team FAED during Assam floods in 2024 is worth mentioning. These efforts are learning opportunities to innovate in the last mile healthcare delivery.

We envision several of these activities relevant to healthcare needs of people of North East India to continue. Fast forward, in the coming years, the FAED will expand its 3D Mission activity pan-India around the primary healthcare delivery as mentioned in this report. We have a 1.4 billion plus population in India. Approximately, 70% of whom are currently living in over 650,000+ villages with a very informal healthcare delivery system. We will continue to keep them in mind as we continue expanding our activities in 2025 and more. The impact we dream to make in every patient’s life drives every effort we make within FAED. If we stay true to our values and remain tenacious in our resolve, the future of healthcare delivery is ours for the taking.

We are grateful and appreciative of funding agencies, scientific collaborators, donors, volunteers, friends and supporters in our journey. We have a learned scientific advisory board and institutional ethical committee to whom we are grateful for their guidance.

Looking forward to your continued support in this journey.

I, on behalf of the Team FAED, wish you a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year 2025 ahead.

Mustafa Barbhuiya December 31, 2024

Highlights FAED - The Organization Foundation for Advancement of Essential Diagnostics (FAED) is a Section 8 non-profit organization registered on Nov 19, 2018. FAED is a recognized Scientific and Industrial Research Organizations (SIRO) by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India. FAED is committed to research and development in the areas of clinical laboratory management, pathology, laboratory medicine and diagnostics.

FAED aims to augment the ‘Essential Diagnostics List’ (EDL) of the World Health Organization and implement it in the Indian health care system.

Vision: To improve public health by preventing avoidable deaths through accurate and timely diagnoses.

Mission: To provide affordable and accessible diagnostic and healthcare services to underserved communities in India, with plans to expand to Southeast Asia.

Core Purpose: To deliver high-quality laboratory medicine services for accurate and timely disease diagnosis to underserved populations.

Core Values: A commitment to advancing human health and life through the principle of "One World, One Health”.

FAED’s 2024 Recap

FAED HIGHLIGHTS 

1. FAED received an extramural grant of $17,500 (USD) from the Association for India’s Development (AID), USA. 2. FAED successfully supported around 550 flood-affected families by distributing free medical health and food kits, benefiting a total of 2,869 people in the Barak Valley, Assam, India.



3. On September 23, 2024, FAED signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Biological Sciences, Aliah University, Kolkata, West Bengal, for collaborative research and training programs in diagnostics, disease surveillance, epidemiology, and public health.

4. FAED published a research article in the journal Annals of Clinical & Laboratory Science, titled “Critical Perspectives on Global Health Policy, Diagnostic Access, and Practice Gaps towards a Tuberculosis Free India (Accepted, in press).”



FAED at BioNest FAED office and lab space in BioNEST-TIDF, Research Park, IIT Guwahati, Assam. The lab space provides access to research facilities and equipment within the IIT campus to enable ongoing research and innovation arm of FAED.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Cervical Cancer Awareness Program

Awareness camp 

FAED kicked-off the year with an awareness camp about HPV Screening, HPV Vaccination on the occasion of Cervical Cancer Awareness day, on January 26, 2024, amidst Republic Day celebrations in one of the remotest districts in India, at the Silcoorie Health and Wellness Centre in Cachar District, Assam.

The campaign educated more than 125 participants, including healthcare workers, on HPV infection, screening, and vaccination to combat the leading cause of cervical cancer.





As part of FAED's multilingual health communication to community, awareness materials were prepared and distributed physically as well as digitally in Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, Manipuri and Nepali languages by the FAED Team.

Please follow the link below to watch video.

Tuberculosis (TB) Screening and Awareness Program 

FAED organized a TB screening and awareness program at Rosekandy Tea Estate in Borjalenga, Cachar, Assam on March 21, 2024. The program included BMI measurements and TB screening, with morning sputum collection and Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB) tests conducted for 30 individuals at nearby primary health center.

Assam Floods 2024- Health Impact Assessment

by FAED

This video takes you on a virtual tour of the flood affected regions in Assam that were visited by FAED members to assess the health impact and facilitate aid and medical relief.

To watch the video, click the link below.

Medical and Health Relief Camps for Flood-Affected People of Barak Valley, Assam In 2024, severe flooding in Assam's Barak Valley, worsened by Cyclone Remal, affected over 266,000 people across 321 villages. FAED, with financial support from AID, USA, provided relief to 550 families (2,869 individuals), distributing food, hygiene, and medical kits. Six health camps in Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakandi districts served 492 individuals with health check-ups. FAED also launched an awareness campaign on flood-related health risks, including waterborne and mosquito-borne diseases, and assisted critically ill individuals with hospital referrals.

A

B

A: Dr. Mustafa Barbhuiya (Founder Director, FAED) along with FAED team distributing relief kits in Bakrihawar (Part-8) village, Hailakandi, Assam. B: FAED volunteer Mr. Moksud Chaudhary (standing) is measuring blood pressure and BMI, while other team members collect the medical history of the participants.

Assessment of Cardiovascular and Diabetes risks among the Hmar Community of Cachar District, Assam A screening camp was conducted for more than 50 participants on July 20, 2024, to assess cardiovascular and diabetes risks among the Hmar community in Fulertol, Cachar District, Assam.

A: FAED volunteer Mr. Bikash Chakraborty is measuring the blood pressure of the participants. B: FAED volunteer Mr. Moksud Chaudhary (in a white coat) is drawing blood from the participants for testing and Dr. Biswajit Chakraborty (extreme left), Research Scientist at FAED, is recording the participant's information.

Medical and Food Relief for displaced community residing in Cachar, Assam

Manipur

On September 19, 2024, FAED, in collaboration with local government medical teams, organized a medical and food relief camp in Lakhipur, Cachar, Assam, to support displaced tribal communities from Manipur. The camp provided health check-ups to 66 individuals, distributed free medicines, and offered essential supplies, including food, hygiene items to 288 refugees (132 males and 156 females).

Pictures showing the FAED team measuring BMI (A) and (B) blood pressure of participants in the medical relief camp.

National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL) surveys to determine diagnostic access gaps in India FAED assessed the availability of essential diagnostics in relation to the National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL) by ICMR, Government of India. This year, we conducted a survey across 40 rural public health facilities in five districts of Assam and 14 facilities in two districts of Tripura. The findings highlighted the urgent need to improve diagnostic infrastructure in these rural public health settings.

FAED continues to develop a sustainable care delivery model to fill those access gaps.

Pictures of field activities and surveys showing the Medical Officer of a representative rural health setting in Karimganj, Assam (A), and the Laboratory Technician of a representative rural health setting in Tripura (B), with Dr. Biswajit Chakraborty, Research Scientist, FAED. Dr. Amaj Laskar (Scientific Director, FAED) and Ms. Anamika Baruah (Admin Director, FAED) during their survey visits to health centers at Garchuk (C) and Dhirenpara (D) in Kamrup Metro, Assam.

Our Dogma of Healthcare Delivery

Community engagement for Healthcare Delivery

Multilingual Public Health Communication

Data Analytics & Disease Dynamics

Our Model and Processes Our three dimensional model is based on innovation, evidence generation and integration of CRE in healthcare delivery

Innovation

Evidence generation

Integration of CRE

Our People People are the driving force of this organization. It is our commitment to provide an empowering and supportive environment that enables the team members to fulfill their dreams and maximize their potential through impactful work in the mission areas of FAED. This will ensure a long term positive impact on everyone’s life and livelihood while we take on solving difficult healthcare delivery problems for millions. We have established new collaborations and we have new hands on deck, who are equally enthusiastic about healthcare delivery and serving the community. This year, FAED has made progress by expanding networks into West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Read more below.

Congratulations to our Founder and Director, Dr. Mustafa Barbhuiya for being listed in the 2024 edition of The Pathologist Power List,

specifically among the top 20 Heroes of Pathology!



He rightly said, "In the developed or the developing world, the biggest challenge facing the field of pathology and laboratory medicine is access to the diagnostic toolbox for patients for the best practices in medicine." We are committed to bring the best of most essential diagnostic toolbox to the last mile around the world. https://lnkd.in/eifp53Xk

“I have made it my life’s mission to bring pathology and laboratory medicine to the forefront of healthcare delivery and medical education.” Dr. Barbhuiya said in his remark to The Pathologist.

Read the list here: https://ow.ly/Mcb250TkSXc hashtag#Pathology hashtag#PowerList

The FAED TEAM

Led by the Founder Director, Dr. Mustafa Barbhuiya, the Core Team comprises of Dr. Amaj Laskar, Ms. Anamika Baruah and Dr. Biswajit Chakraborty, who coordinate, lead and perform the ground work in India.

Collaborators: We have established new collaborations with Dr. Kajal Arora, Dr. Vipin Kumar and Dr. Mehboob Hoque to facilitate the expansion and growth of FAED work in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal. This has been a great effort and we look forward to working together on projects that will serve the communities in these areas.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

Looking Ahead As we have a vision to expand our activities pan-India, we have pending funding applications pending to several grant agencies. We aim to raise an amount of Rs. 5000000.00 (Rupees Fifty Lacs only ) for our next fiscal year to continue the activities of mission area of FAED.

Financial Outlook Fiscal Year is April 1 to March 31; The audited reports of each financial year are made public in the website www.faed.in FAED is thankful to Association for India’s Development, USA and Association of Indian Muslims, USA for generous supports to carry out several projects The 2025 outlook depends on the grants, donations and funds received We are looking for partners, collaborators and supporters. We appeal to the philanthropic organizations, individual donors and funding agencies to support the programs of FAED. We also look forward to participate in the competitive call for proposals.

For specific questions please send an email to admin@faed.in

Further Information Previous Year Annual Reports and Audits: Visit www.faed.in Publications and articles: https://faed.in/?pg=publications Other links : https://faed.in/?pg=press_media FAED in Social Media: Foundation for Advancement of Essential Diagnostics - FAED  https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundation-for-advancement-of-essential-diagnostics/? viewAsMember=true

Contact Us For further information, please reach out to us at admin@faed.in Registration & Accreditation

FAED BioNEST Bio-Incubation Centre Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India

· CIN: U73200AS2018NPL018870 · PAN: AADCF5651Q · 12A/80G: AADCF5651Q24KL01 · CSR: SRN-T94944113

Email: admin@faed.in

· DARPAN ID: AS/2021/0298848

Website: www.faed.in

· DIPPP NO: DIPP78683

Donation

· ROC LICENSE NO: 113291 · DSIR SIRO Certification: 14/912/2023-TU-V

Financial contributions are highly appreciated from generous donors to help FAED in its goal of providing health care benefits to society to prevent unwanted deaths due to lack of accurate and timely diagnosis.

· FCRA REG. NO: 020780179

You can send donations to: If you are an Indian Citizen Account Name: Foundation for Advancement of Essential Diagnostics Account Number: 198905000835 IFSC : ICIC0001989 Bank Name: ICICI Bank Branch Name: Beltola Branch or If you are donating from abroad and a non-Indian citizen want to support several global health efforts of FAED, please donate using PayPal Giving Fund (EIN: 85-1068018) using link below  FOUNDATION FOR ADVANCEMENT OF ESSENTIAL DIAGNOSTICS  501(c)(3) tax-exemption applicable for donations made in USA

End of Report