National Health Service Week begins tomorrow

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DHAKA, April 15, 2019 (BSS) – The country is set to observe the National Health Service Week for the first time across the country to make the people aware about their right to have access to the highest level of health services.

“We are going to observe the week for the first time with a view to creating massive public awareness and serve special health services to people of the country,” Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque said today.

He said this while briefing journalists at conference room of the ministry while Health Secretary G M Saleh Uddin, Addtitional Secretary Habibur Rahman Khan and Directorate General of Health Service Directorate Dr Abul Kalam Azad were present, among others.

The theme of the Week of this year is ‘Ensure Health Service Right: Promise of Sheikh Hasina’ (Sasthyo Sheba Odhikar, Sheikh Hasinar Angikar).

Maleque expressed his optimism that the country will achieve the milestone within the shortest possible time under the dynamic leadership of the present government.

“Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman included the right of nutrition as a fundamental need and inducted it in the Constitutions. He also signed for forming a National Nutrition Parishad on April 23, 1975,” he said.

From this year the ‘National Nutrition Week’ would be observed concurrently under the banner of ‘National Health Service Week’.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the prograame tomorrow at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in city’s Agargaon area at 10.30 am.

The weeklong programme will include rally, seminars, creation of awareness among people, special services at specialized hospitals, outdoor health services and health campaigns.

Newspapers will publish special articles while televisions and radio will air programmess highlighting significance of the day.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on the eve of the Week.

In his message, the President expressed his optimism that Bangladesh will be a middle income country by 2021 and developed one by 2041.

“So we have to give importance on health sector to attain related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” he said.

The President said the government has been working tirelessly to provide proper healthcare including prevention of diseases and development of nutrition sector.

The standard of treatment in the country has improved with developed infrastructure, skilled manpower and ultra modern equipment and digital technology used in health system introduced by the government, he added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said the government has been working tirelessly to develop the health service of the country and received various international awards like MDG Award, South South Award and Gavi Award.

“Bangladesh has now been a role model in field of development of health and nutrition,” she said adding, “We are working tirelessly to ensure health service and nutrition among all people of the country.”

The Premier called upon the affluent section of society to work with the government to reach healthcare and nutrition at the doorsteps of the people.

Both the President and the Prime Minister said theme of the Day is very time-befitting. They wished success of the Day.