TITLE: AAMAR HOSPITAL

The word “HOSPITAL” carries an air of surrealism that you can touch, feel, smell and recall. It is stratified socio-economic and cultural blend revolving in incomplete circles which you cannot forget even if you want to and would rather recall as another resurrection to life, yet the dream or reality remains forever black and white.
During the first half of the twentieth century, hospitals were becoming more than a concept, changing the purpose of their existence, from institutions for the practice of charity to places devoted to physical healing. This transformation of the hospital as a training ground for doctors owes a lot to the world wars and the French Revolution. They covered a huge ground in industrial countries, becoming large public institutions owned by the governments, mainly due to the scale of operation and need, advancement in diagnostics and increase in public awareness. But the questions of cost and quality of service were understated by various ideology and bureaucracies, which also prevented its’ universal access and availability. In course of time, to detect the changing diseases pattern in the society and for the sake of better health care, newer medical technology and increasing specialization of medical activity had to be adopted.
Social scientists and economists brought the questions of universal health care with equitable access, developing the concept of changing lifestyles for disease prevention and the unmet needs of the inaccessible population. ‘AAMAR HOSPITAL’ tries to frame those questions, argues and contemplates about the universal health care we talk about, dream about and expect about. From the management perspective, with in the hierarchy, the patients, most of who are from lower socioeconomic strata, still remain at the bottom. They are portrayed in a foreground of their sufferings, sorrow and denial, while the grey background of ignorance, illiteracy and masses of people fighting over limited resources remains the horrifying truth.
Again the question of ensuring quality ,equitable hospital health services and its sensitive linkages with the community health service have now been re asked, globally amidst the COVID 19 epidemic. A question that cannot be downplayed. A question we avoid while raging for wars and going for war parties, while our greatest enemies will still be the disease, discrimination and poverty.
During my study, Chittagong Medical College & Hospital, in Chittagong, Bangladesh, a 1000 bedded tertiary care district hospital, attached with the medical college, routinely served thrice the load of patients against her capacity. These stories show how medical practice takes shape against all odds, in an under-staffed, under resourced and under financed hospital of a developing country. Although the hospital could serve and restore health of most patients, many were also left unhealed.
This is the hospital where I took my long learning path to become a healer. From my initial days in this long and lonely travel, it haunted me with the feelings of a lost patient and those endless waiting of an attendant. As a photographer through the lens, I started realizing, however colorful you represent a hospital, deep inside, it is a monochrome world from where you restart your search for a new life. I still remember the day I met a severely burnt worker from a ship breaking yard. His helpless wife and children, the whole family was staying by his bedside against the hospital regulations as they had no place to live or go. However, miracles happen in this hospital, so does great healers serving day and night against all the odds to make it happen and the prayers continue in mosques and temples. And then, like a thrilling story, a long drama, a silent saga, the weak and the sick survive, return home with great joy and gratitude.
Finally, like me I should say, the patients did have some rays of hope to return home relieved from the abyss of pain. And they believed in God, they believed in Doctors, they believed in this institution. At the time when I shot those frames, the hospital nevertheless its limited settings and old technologies carried many dedicated souls to work relentlessly round the clock to help the sick as much as possible. It was a teaching institute of young doctors and nurses too, all of whom shared the empathy and dedication for the hospital and its patients. Often everybody would together celebrate their pride and good moments. You may see history often defines hospitals as 'Total institution', 'Blessings of Science', then again as' Islands apart', by critics; yet to me it's my hospital. I owned it through my lens, my heart and my journey through the collective pain of being a hospital patient. I should conclude now quoting the great Jalaluddin Rumi as he said,”The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”

AUTHOR: IBRAHIM M. IQBAL (Bangladesh)

BIOGRAPHY
IBRAHIM M. IQBAL
AFIAP, LBPS, Hon.CPE, BEAPF, ES.CPE


Born 9th October 1970, Chittagong, Bangladesh . Chemical
Pathologist And Self Taught Photographer.

Began his career back in1988 discovering passion that was unknown. Did his MBBS from Chittagong Medical College in 1996 and then MD (Doctor of Medicine – in clinical biochemistry), from Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Bangladesh in2005.

Won more than 250 awards in National and International Photo Contests including Gold medal in 6thNational Photo Contest in 1996, grand prize (Colour Portfolio), in 7thNational ShilpokolaAcademyPhotoContestin1999, 1st prize(Monochorome),in7thNationalShilpokolaAcademy Photo Contest in 1999, gold medal, in AshahiSimbun International Photo Contest, Japan
2000, 3rdprize, in Nicon International Photo Contest, Japan 2000, FIAP bronze medal ( Portfolio) in Zagreb International Photo Contest, Croatia 2004, Rakal gold medal in International Photo Contest, Serbia 2002, GPU gold in Emotion and Human Relation-Odessos International Photo Contest, Bulgaria 2017, Best image award in photojournalism-Odessos International Photo Contest, Bulgaria 2017, IPN gold in human life from international photo salon, Nepal 2018, Best emotion award in life section from International Salon, Nepal 2018, PSA bronze medal from Huangbai International Photo Exhibition and Festival, China 2018, PSA silver medal 5thInternational Salon Shadow, Serbia 2018. National Silver Medal in life section from University Photo Cinema Club, Banjaluka, PSA gold medal from image san frontier world cup, France 2019, He also got national diploma from the International Exhibition of Art Photography Play, Macedonia 2019, received salon gold in child section from 5thCircular Exhibition of Photography Circuit, Ireland 2019, DPA gold in photojournalism section from 5thCircular Exhibition of Photography Circuit, Montenegro 2019, salon gold medal from Contrast International Exhibition of Art Photography, Bosnia Herzegovina 2019, Asia Photographer Union(APU) silver medal from Changbang International Photo Salon , China 2019, PSA honorable mention in photo journalism division from new World Photo Contest 2020, Turkey, and received salon diploma in women section from new World Photo Contest 2020, Turkey, received PSA honorable mention in city life section from new World Photo Contest 2020, Turkey, got NYPA gold medal from New York Photo Fair 2020, USA etc.
Photographs were collected by India international photographic council for their historical archive, India. Benque Indosuez Dhaka, Bangladesh. National theatre of Tirgumures, Romania. Imperial Hospital, Bangladesh, Apollo Hospital Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Awarded artist FIAP (AFIAP) distinction by Federation International de Photographic Art, Luxemburg in 1996. Received Licentiateship (LBPS) from Bangladesh Photographic Society in 1992, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Received Honorary Distinction (Hon. CPE) from Campina Photographic Exhibition Society, Romania. Receieved BRONZE EXHIBITOR distinction ( BEAPF) from ASIA PHOTO FESTIVAL, Receieved EXCELLENCE SERVICE distinction (ES.CPE) from Campina Photographic Exhibition Society, Romania. Member of Global Advisory Board for the Public Health Photo Contest(PHPC) by Gonoshasthaya Kendra and GonoBishwabidyalya.

He had been the member of the jury in several, national and international photo contests and reputed photo clubs. Presently serving as a consultant in Lab Medicine department, Imperial Hospital Limited and free lancing as a photographer.