The Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed, commonly known as CRP, is an organisation which was founded in 1979 by a small group of Bangladeshis and Valerie Taylor OBE.

Miss Taylor came to the country (then known as East Pakistan) in 1969 as a VSO physiotherapist, and was appalled at the lack of facilities for the disabled and the often poor diagnosis by local doctors.

The situation for the disabled was worsened in the aftermath of the 1971 Independence War, after which Bangladesh won its independence from Pakistan.

After many years of disappointments and setbacks, CRP was opened in 1979, The premises were two cement storerooms in the grounds of a Dhaka hospital. The capacity soon grew from 4 patients to about 50.

During the next 10 years, CRP move premises three times, the last move being in 1990 to the present site at Savar, 25 km west of Dhaka.

CRP is the only organisation of its kind in Bangladesh, a country with a population of 132 million.

Disabled people in Bangladesh are especially vulnerable. The World Health Organisation estimates that 10% of the population in Bangladesh, as in most developing countries, are disabled.

CRP's objectives are:

To provide treatment, rehabilitation and support services focusing on physical, emotional, social, psychological and economic aspects.

To promote the development of skilled personnel in health care and rehabilitation in the country and the region.

To develop sub-centres in different parts of the country to expand the services for disabled people in collaboration with other organisations (NGO's, Government, self help organisations and private sector).

To organise and promote programmes for the prevention of disability.
To develop programmes for disabled children, focusing on early identification, therapeutic interventions and education.

To promote advocacy and networking on disability issues focusing on equalisation of opportunities for disabled people through the removal of physical and social barriers.

To promote empowerment of disabled people through community based services in collaboration with other organisations and social institutions (NGO's, Government, Self help organisations and private sector)

To promote empowerment of disabled girls and women, focusing on confidence building, education, Vocational Training and employment.

To raise awareness about disability issues nationally, regionally and internationally.

To conduct research consistent with the vision, mission and overall objectives of CRP.

To promote sports and recreational opportunities for disabled people.

To promote collaboration opportunities nationally, regionally and internationally to share experiences and expertise.

At present CRP has three functioning sub-centres at Gonokbari (Savar), Dhaka City Centre (Mohammadpur) and Gobindapur (Mouvlibazar District). CRP is also constructing a new rehabilitation centre at Mirpur in Dhaka. When this centre is complete (scheduled for early 2003), CRP-Dhaka City Centre will relocate to CRP-Mirpur

CRP Savar accommodates both in-patients (100 beds) and out-patients. The majority of patients have suffered disability as a result of accidents. Other common causes of disability are strokes, various orthopaedic and neurological conditions and children with cerebral palsy.

The Bangladesh Health Professions Institute is a training academy based at CRP Savar, giving training up to BSc (Honours) Degree standard. Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Rehabilitation Nurses, Special Education Teachers and Community Based Rehabilitation Workers are all trained at CRP.

Quoted from the website.

Disability Association(s): All Disabilities

Internet Location: http://www.crp-bangladesh.com

Internet Resource Type: Web Site

Resource Type: Rehabilitation resource

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