A high level team of DFID visited YPSA Age Friendly Space (AFS-5) at Camp-13, Burmapara, Tasnimarkhola, Thaingkhali, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar on 25 November, 2019. Mr. Robert Watt OBE, Head of Humanitarian & Protracted Crisis Team, DFID; Ms. Bonosree Sarker, Deputy Program Manager, DFID and Mr. Admire Nyereyemhuka, UNOPS were in the team. YPSA (Young Power in Social Action) is implementing a project titled “Integrated Humanitarian Response to the needs of Older Men and Women” under the technical support of HelpAge International, Bangladesh. DFID is funding the project and the fund is managed by UNOPS.
Mr. Md. Jahangir Alam, Humanitarian Program Manager, HelpAge International, Bangladesh and Mr. Mohammed Shahidull Islam, Head of Rohingya Response Program, YPSA explained whole components (Health, WASH, Protection, Capacity building, Livelihood and Nutrition) of the project to DFID team in a short seating. Mr. Mohd. Jahangir Alam, Project Coordinator, YPSA explained every activity in the Age Friendly Space including primary health services, psychosocial services, physiotherapeutic services, recreation space (Male & Female), child corner, age friendly latrine and washing point.
Mr. Robert Watt OBE, Head of Humanitarian & Protracted Crisis Team, DFID appreciated the integrated setup of Age Friendly Space. He liked “Child Corner” especially which was added newly. There is a great intimacy between older people and their grandchildren. Grandchildren were unsecured when the older people stayed in the Age Friendly Space (AFS) for a long time in the day. Now the Grandchildren can come to Age Friendly Space (AFS) with the older people and they were secured in the child corner. He passed some enjoy-full time with the children in the “Child Corner.” There was a “mediation” session was going on and Mr. Robert Watt OBE joined the session very happily.
He also observed Rohinghya community made traditional stretcher (Male & Female) which we called “Human Ambulance” and it is provided to carry severe ill and disabled older people to refer them other facilities and during health & eye camp. He visited age friendly latrine and washing point which were very helpful for older people. After observing running every activity of the Age Friendly Space (AFS), he was very pleased and appreciated highly all the YPSA’s activities.
