DHAKA, Nov 6, 2022 (BSS) - Health Minister Zahid Maleque today said Bangladesh can be a role model in dealing with mental health ailment as the country is already taking massive programme to improve mental health services.

"We have been lauded globally for tackling COVID-19 pandemic... we are now focusing on providing quality mental healthcare facilities" he told a workshop titled 'Ensuring mental healthcare facilities at community level' at the National Mental Health Institute and Hospital in the city, an official release said.
 
Saima Wazed Hossain, a member of the World Health Organization's (WHO) 25-member Expert Advisory Panel on mental health, joined the workshop virtually as main speaker while Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam presided over it.

Secretary of Health Service Division Dr Muhammad Anwar Hossain Haqlader, Director of National Mental Health Institute and Hospital, mental health specialists and senior officials of the health ministry, among others, attended the workshop.

Saima Wazed, also the daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said "Bangladesh is facing acute shortage of mental health specialist. So, the country must focus on developing mental health experts to provide quality treatment facilities to the patients," she added.

Saima Wazed laid emphasis on formulating effective laws, policies and strategies to address the gradually rising mental health disease.
 
Maleque said Bangladesh is taking many effective initiatives to ensure mental health services to the people.

"We are implementing various mental health programmes in line with our policy to provide quality mental healthcare facilities," he added.

The minister said under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh would be able to reach mental healthcare service to the doorsteps of common people.

He said, "We are taking necessary measures to build mental health hospitals at eight divisional cities and provide mental health service at upazila level hospitals."

The government also has taken the initiative for introducing school mental health programme to create awareness among children, he added.