Mamun remembers precisely what happened on that day. It was 25 September this year, and the midwife of the Arendabari Health & Family Welfare Center declared that his wife Asmaul could not have a normal delivery due to less fetal movement and watery discharge. Her wife admitted 11:30am of the day and referred to higher facility at 3:00pm. She suggested taking her to a hospital and warned that they were running out of time. But the closest hospital from Mamun's village Jigabari was at least a three-hour journey by trawler. He was feeling helpless until one of midwife informed him of a boat service named ‘Mamotar Tori’. The boat stayed at the Jigabari ghat, nearest of the UHFWC. He was charged for the fuel cost only, 10 litter of petrol. He brings it from nearest fuel shop. Not just Mamun, a lot of other residents of Arendabari’s char area are benefitting from the Mamotar Tori service introduced by Mamota Project in collaboration with SKS Foundation and Save the Children in Bangladesh. It’s financed by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Save the Children Korea. They named the Mamotar Tori after the river that surrounds the area. The boat has a bed and space for emergency delivery. It can accommodate 10 people along with a patient bed. It also includes medical facilities like emergency oxygen supply, medicine, and first aid. The idea is to keep a medical assistant along with a driver and a helper. When the Mamotar Tori was ready, project started campaigning in markets and public places. So far, they have served five people. Some of them come to facility from their resident char area to UHFWC and some of them taking service to go to UHFWC to nearest hospitals at Gaibandha district. "This project is not dedicated to reduce maternal and infant mortality. The objective of boat service of the project is to provide access to healthcare services," said Sraboni, Midwife of Arendabari UHFWC. However, Asmaul finally return back with a baby girl after 4 days of C-Section at a private hospital in Gaibandha district town. “I thought I will not return back that time. Basically we have very few boat here to go to the nearest hospital or district town. Those boat has their own time and many people cross the river through boat. It is time consuming and not suitable for pregnant mother like me. We have our own boat to serve us during day and night named Mamotar tori. We feel safe to have that.” Asmaul takes three antenatal care check-ups and after return bank she with her baby girl takes 2 postnatal care check-ups from the Arendabari UHFWC. “Me and my child are now following the instructions of Israt Apa, midwife of the Arendabari UHFWC and feeling better day by day and hopefully I will cure shortly.” She added.
