Tuesday | 14 January 2025 | Reg No- 06
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Tuesday | 14 January 2025 | Epaper

'Friend of Bangladesh' Dr Richard passes away in Boston

Published : Saturday, 26 October, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 320
Dr. Richard Cash, co-developer of the Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT), passed away on October 22 in Boston at the age of 83, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of service and innovation that transformed healthcare worldwide, said a BRAC press release here on Thursday. 

"BRAC is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Richard Allan Cash, a distinguished public health researcher, co-developer of the Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT), and a steadfast friend of Bangladesh," the release said. 

Born on 9 June 1941, Dr. Richard Cash was an American by birth.

Richard Cash's contributions to Bangladesh extended beyond healthcare. A dedicated supporter of Bangladesh's independence, he was honoured with the "Friends of Liberation War Honour" for his instrumental role in rallying international support for the cause. 

He remained a close ally of the country, playing a pivotal role in the founding of BRAC USA in 2006, where he served as a devoted Board member for nearly two decades.

Dr. Cash fondly said, "Bangladesh is my second home," a sentiment he lived by for decades. 

His profound connection to Bangladesh began in the 1970s when he chose to serve at the Cholera Research Laboratory (now icddr,b) in Dhaka. At a time when diarrhoeal diseases claimed the lives of one in five children in Bangladesh, Dr. Cash co-developed Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT), a breakthrough treatment that has saved millions of lives globally. The therapy's impact was further amplified in the 1980s through BRAC's Oral Therapy Extension Programme (OTEP), which trained 12.5 million Bangladeshi mothers in its use, cutting the child mortality rate by half, according to the press release.

Paying respect to the memory of Dr. Cash, Asif Saleh, Executive Director of BRAC, expressed his condolences: "Richard's dedication to improving public health, particularly in low-resource settings, was marked by his humility, compassion, and tireless advocacy for equitable healthcare. His legacy will inspire future generations of health professionals, reminding us that simple, cost-effective solutions can have a transformative impact on global health. Personally, I have lost a mentor and a friend whose advice, guidance, wisdom and sense of humour I will miss dearly."    —BSS



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