Diabetic Association of Bangladesh
Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (DAB) a non-profit voluntary socio-medical service organisation, established in Dhaka in 1956 at the initiative of late National Professor mohammad ibrahim and a group of social workers, philanthropists, physicians, and civil servants. The association started an out-patient clinic in 1957 in a small semi-permanent structure of about 35.5 sq m at Segun Bagicha in Dhaka. The clinic later turned into a Diabetes Care and Research Complex at Shahbagh. After the death of Prof Ibrahim in 1989, DAB was renamed as Ibrahim Memorial Diabetes Centre.
The Diabetic Association of Bangladesh is a non-profit, voluntary, socio-medical service organisation registered with the Ministry of Social Welfare. It is managed by a 29-member national council comprising heads of universities, financial institutions, research organisations, donor agencies, community organisations as well as social leaders and government officers. DAB's Diabetes Care and Research Complex, now converted into a large modern diabetic hospital, has both indoor and outdoor treatment facilities and it provides pathological and X-ray services. DAB is World Health Organisation's regional collaborating centre for diabetes research in Southeast Asia. The hospital serves about 300 outdoor patients daily; it has about 461 paying and 80 non-paying beds and also 89 cabins.
There are about 310 doctors, 171 paramedics and 523 nurses associated with this organisation. DAB has established the Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM) in 1980 to produce qualified manpower in diabetes, endocrine and metabolism. birdem conducts specialized postgraduate courses for diploma and degrees such as MPhil, MD, PhD, and MS in various medical and health science disciplines under the Postgraduate Faculty of Medicine of the University of Dhaka. Along with its mother organisation DAB, BIRDEM has 42 district level branches in the country. [Bipin Roy]
See also birdem.
