Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Jibon Tari is a floating hospital, first of its kind, that started operating on April 10, 1999 at the riverbank of Mawa in Munshiganj district, Bangladesh. The aim of this project is to provide health services in general and specialized curative services in particular to remote riverine and offshore island communities of the country for the benefit of the poorer section of the society. Since its inception until May of 2006, Impact Jibon Tari has completed 31 projects (each project's duration is 3 months) and provided primary health care service to a total of 196,359 people. During that time, 16,736 patients underwent surgeries including orthopedics, plastic surgery, eye and ENT. 34,082 different types of pathological tests were also performed and 7983 patients had Intra Ocular Lenses (IOL) implanted in their eyes during cataract surgery. Over 140 thousand people received health information on the prevention of disability and 731 TBAs received training on antenatal care, post natal care and safe motherhood. Thus, through Jibon Tari, Impact Bangladesh is successfully fulfilling its prime mandate: preventing and curing disability.

The boat carries a tent capable of accommodating up to 150 outpatients in places where appropriate accommodation facilities are not available. To move it from place to place, a tugboat is used. The vessel is capable of being anchored or moored at a riverside with a permanent mooring facility. The hull and the superstructure of the vessel have been constructed with steel in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Inland Shipping Ordinance of Bangladesh and the Lloyds Register of Shipping Inland Rules and Regulations.