Valerie Taylor And CRP

I've been meaning to write about this inspiring story for a while. Pleased I finally have gotten round to it. It's a story that touched me immensely when I first read of it a few weeks ago.

The woman in the picture above is Valerie Taylor O.B.E. Orginally from Buckinghamshire, England,she first travelled to Bangladesh with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) in 1969 to work as a physiotherapist in Chandragona Hospital, near Chittagong. At that time Bangladesh was still known as East Pakistan, as a result of the partition of India after British rule ended in 1947.

In 1973 Valerie returned to England to attempt to raise funds to establish a rehabilitation centre for disabled. She stayed in England for two years before returning in 1975. It took another four years before CRP was able to admit it's first patients in 1979. During this time, Valerie worked in the Shaheed Surawady Hospital in Dhaka and it was in the grounds of this hospital that CRP had it's first premises, two cement storerooms which were used to treat patients.Since then, the CRP has grown to include a 100-bed hospital, in addition to providing other rehabilitation treatments. The center includes recreational services including a swimming pool, and sports areas. The center also provides vocational training so that the poorer patients can learn income-generating skills that can be performed while in their physical condition.

Through all the various moves from one premises to another, Valerie has continued to work tirelessly for the benefit of CRP. Even today the light in her office can be seen burning till late in the evening.

Valerie is also legal guardian to two disabled girls, Joyti and Poppy.

Despite officially taking a backseat role at CRP some years ago, Valerie remains the driving force behind the running and development of CRP.

In 1998 Valerie was awarded Bangladeshi citizenship by the then Prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.


Amazing story. People like this push me forward, make me want to read more,strive more, learn more and teach more in an effort to become a better doctor and a better person.