DHAKA, April 11, 2019 (BSS) – Chairperson of Bangladesh National Advisory Committee for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Saima Wazed Hossain today stressed the need for creating skilled manpower to ensure standard mental healthcare services to people.
“Apart from infrastructural development, creating skilled manpower is an urgent to ensure standard mental healthcare services to all,” she said while addressing a meeting of the working group on the formulation of the National Mental Health Strategy.
The meeting was held at the conference room of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) at Mohakhali in the capital with DGHS director general Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad in the chair, a press release said.
Saima, also the working group chief adviser, suggested incorporating mental health related activities of different ministries and departments in the National Mental Health Strategy in accordance with the Mental Health Act-2018 and the proposed Mental Health Policy.
Dr Azad said there is no alternative to standard mental health services aiming to ensure the overall healthcare of people.
He sought active participation of all concerned for formulation of a long-term mental health strategy and its implementation.
The meeting discussed the present scenario of mental health services in Bangladesh and its future plan in this regard.
Working group coordinator Subhash Chandra Sarkar, Prof Golam Rabbani and senior government officials were present at the meeting.