In Bangladesh, Roshida’s long road to recovery
Roshida, a Rohingya refugee, lost her independence after a stroke left half her body paralyzed. With sustained rehabilitation support from HI, she began to recover.
HI’s physical therapist provides therapeutic support to Roshida after the stroke | © HI
Since fleeing her country, Roshida has been living in Cox's Bazar, one of the world's largest refugee camps, located in the south-east of Bangladesh. Today, more than one million Rohingya live in Bangladesh. HI has been working in Bangladesh since 1997 and is providing rehabilitation care and psychological support to people with disabilities and vulnerable people in Cox's Bazar. After a stroke, Roshida received care from HI and underwent rehabilitation sessions. She recounts her journey.
A second catastrophe
Roshida, 48, never imagined that a single moment would steal her independence, her voice, and her peace of mind.
Roshida lives in Camp-04, Block A-05, with her younger son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. After fleeing Myanmar in 2017 during the mass influx, she had slowly tried to rebuild her life in Bangladesh. But a few months ago, she suffered a stroke that paralyzed the entire left side of her body. That’s when everything changed again.
Roshida says, with a quiet but steady voice, “I had a stroke. One side of my body stopped working. I couldn’t stand, couldn’t walk, couldn’t even hold my grandchild. I felt useless. Like life was ending, slowly.”
At first, Roshida sought treatment from traditional healers and the camp hospital, but her condition remained the same. Then, one doctor at the camp referred her to HI. That referral opened a new door.
Roshida explains, “I became a burden. My daughter didn’t visit. My son and his wife did what they could, but I could see they were tired too. I cried a lot. I forgot things. I stopped speaking much. I just sat in one place all day, waiting for it.”
Care that restored hope
On March 6, 2025, Roshida’s son helped bring her to the HI static point near her home. There, the HI team listened carefully. They registered her and began regular home visits for therapy and support.
Over the following weeks, Roshida received 38 sessions, including 22 rehabilitation sessions, 12 emergency mental health sessions, and four introductory nursing care sessions. HI also provided her with practical tools, such as a bed mattress, a standing frame, and illustrated guides on self-care and stress management. The emotional support was just as critical as physical care.
“I still remember when they gave me a small appointment book,” she recalls. “They said, ‘We will come to your home and help you.’ And they did. Every week.”
“I believe one day I’ll walk”
With regular physical therapy, Roshida began regaining sensation in her paralyzed limbs. She is now able to stand on her own, manage basic self-care with assistance, and even enjoy simple activities with her grandchilden.
Beyond physical recovery, the emotional transformation has been profound. Today, Roshida is more hopeful, connected, and self-aware.
She says with a smile on her face, “I still can’t walk fully, but I can feel the strength in my legs again. I believe one day I’ll walk. My grandchilden make me happy. I laugh again. I feel alive again. And I’m grateful very, very grateful.”
