The islands known as chars in Bangladesh are constantly changing shape as they erode and reform, a process that is quickening as a result of more extreme rainfall associated with climate change. The erosion makes survival difficult for their residents mostly poor farmers and discourages building of permanent hospitals, researchers say. But floating hospital ships, run by a non-governmental organization and equipped with medical facilities and doctors, now provide free treatment in the chars - a system that might be a model for other nations hit by worsening climate threats. Without the ship, the char's residents must hire a boat and endure a day-long journey to the nearest town hospital. They had to spend a lot of time and money to arrange a simple doctor's visit. It discourages them. That's why many residents visit hospitals only when the disease or pain becomes really bad. That is very dangerous. The NGO currently runs two ships and is in the process of building five more floating hospitals with the help of the King Abdullah Foundation, an organization started by the former Saudi monarch. After five years, the new ships will be handed over to the Bangladesh government, which believes Friendship's method of reaching people in remote areas needs to expand.