LAMB Integrated Rural Health and Development 

 LAMB has been working in health and development in Northwest Bangladesh since the mid-1970s. Our focus is to serve the poor. Our approach is to provide accessible high quality services at a sustainable and appropriate level for this context. LAMB has a national and international reputation as a model health system for the rural poor in Bangladesh. We are a Mission, here to serve God by serving the poor. 

INTRODUCTION

Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world. Its problems include:

• being the most densely populated country in the world,
• a growing population,
• frequent natural disasters,
• inadequate health and education services
• a history of inadequate governance.

The vision for LAMB began in the early 1950s when a missionary of the American Santal Mission in Dinajpur felt an urgent need for medical work for the hundreds of thousands who had no access to proper healthcare.

LAMB has grown considerably in its ability to serve. Now the hospital treats more than 60,000 out patients per year – nearly 200 per day; nearly 10,000 in-patients per year for surgery or medical treatment; and delivers nearly 4,000 babies per year.

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LAMB AT A GLANCE

Location

LAMB is located in Northwest Bangladesh.  The main hospital site is located 2 kilometres west of the town of Parbatipur, about 24 kilometres east of the district city of Dinajpur.

Facilities

At the main site, the key facilities are the

• 150 bed general hospital, with additional facilities for outpatients and other needs
• A residential training centre with 10 classrooms, with facilities for 90 trainees
• Offices for hospitall, centrally based community staff, and support staff
• Residential accommodation for more than 150 members of staff and their families; a Guest House for short term workers and visitors
• English-medium school teaching for staff and local children

Services

The key services are

• Clinical services provided at the hospital and outpatient clinics, including
• Maternity and gynaecology
• General surgery (mainly abdominal), cleft lip/ palate, emergency
• Medicine
• Pediatrics including disabled children rehabilitation
  • Community activities including health promotion, disaster preparedness, development
  • Training
  • Health data from community and hospital collated and reported
  • Research into health, nutrition, social determinants of health

Staff

LAMB has in total 1000 staff, of whom 400 are permanent staff, and 600 are contract staff working on funded community and research projects. Of the staff, 21% are Christian, 55% Muslim and 24% Hindu

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LAMB : A Brief History

1955 – 2012Mid 1950s – Vision 

The vision for LAMB began when Mr. John Otteson, a missionary of the American Santal Mission in Dinajpur, felt an urgent need for medical work for the hundreds of thousands who had no access to proper health care. The vision was developed further through a prayer group in Los Angeles.

1969-Mid 1970s – Land

The land where LAMB exists was purchased between 1969 and 1972. The early vision included a hospital providing high quality tertiary, secondary and primary health services to everyone, especially the poor. Preventive health initiatives were introduced before the hospital was established. From the earliest days, training was envisaged as a key activity.

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