Beyond the Threads: Aarong’s Commitment to Artisan Wellness

Aarong’s Health Security Scheme (HSS) goes beyond financial empowerment, prioritising the well-being of artisans. Since 2016, this initiative has provided essential healthcare through a co-funded scheme, offering vital medical support and overcoming access barriers in remote areas. Discover how Aarong is fostering a healthier, more secure artisan community.

A Lifeline Beyond Economic Empowerment
“HSS is core to my heart because the programme fosters a deep bond with our artisans, extending beyond economic empowerment,” shares Bernadette Campu, manager of Aarong’s Social Compliance and Producer Development (SCPD). Aarong’s commitment to fair trade extends to ensuring artisans’ well-being through holistic initiatives, where health and security are as important as financial stability.

The Power of Partnership: A Safety Net for Artisans
The Health Security Scheme (HSS), launched in 2016, is a healthcare fund supporting artisans and their families. Aarong and its artisans co-contribute to create a shared fund for in-patient treatment costs. This model ensures that artisans, often marginalized in society, have access to critical healthcare when they need it most, providing a safety net that supports them and their families.

When Hospitals Are Out of Reach: The Struggles of Rural Artisans
Access to medical services in remote rural areas is a persistent challenge in Bangladesh. Women, in particular, face barriers due to limited facilities, long distances to urban hospitals, and societal restrictions that often prevent them from traveling for medical care. Many health issues remain undiagnosed until they become severe or even untreatable. Addressing these challenges is critical to ensuring the physical and mental well-being of rural artisans.

Bringing the Hospital to the Artisan
To overcome these barriers, Aarong organises free health camps with the most recent one held in Jamalpur, a hub for the Ayesha Abed Foundation (AAF) with 90 subcentres. Instead of requiring artisans to travel long distances, Aarong brought the hospital to them. The camps, set up in remote subcentres, provided over 2,800 artisans and family members with services such as BMI checks, blood sugar tests, blood grouping, general health exams, and consultations. One artisan noted, “We really needed this. Hospitals are too far, and we rarely visit them.” This initiative ensured accessibility for those who might otherwise forgo essential medical care.

Weaving Health, Wealth, and Happiness Together
Aarong’s artisan wellbeing programme impacts 35,000 artisans (out of the 75,000 total artisans enlisted with Aarong) enrolled in all Ayesha Abed Foundations and their families, combining economic empowerment with health and wellness support. By addressing critical gaps in healthcare access and prioritizing the unique needs of rural artisans, Aarong exemplifies an inclusive and innovative approach to fair trade. The HSS reflects Aarong’s commitment to creating a thriving, healthy, and secure artisan community.