19th founding anniversary of community clinic tomorrow

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DHAKA, April 25, 2019 (BSS)-The 19th founding anniversary of community clinic will be observed across the country tomorrow.

After assuming the office in 1996, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the first community clinic at Patgati of Tungipara in Gopalganj district on April 26 in 2000. Now, there are more than 13,743 community clinics in the rural areas of the country to facilitate the countrymen with healthcare services.

Rural people get 27 types of medicines and contraceptive items free of cost from these clinics.

On the occasion, various programmes have been taken at national and district levels across the country, said health and family welfare minister Zahid Maleque at a press conference here today.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages marking the founding anniversary of the community clinic. In his message, President Abdul Hamid said, “Community clinic is one of the ten special initiatives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the United Nations and other international organizations have highly praised this initiative as these clinics have been playing a significant role in reaching integrated health and family planning services at the doorsteps of rural people.”

Currently, the community healthcare providers are reaching the health, family welfare and nutrition services to the doorsteps of the marginal people across the country, he added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message said that the government so far has launched about 14,000 community clinics and plan has been taken to set up 4, 000 more clinics by 2022 to ensure healthcare services of the rural people.

“We have so far recruited over 14, 000 community healthcare providers. People took healthcare services by visiting these clinics over 85 crore times since 2009,” said the Prime Minister.

She said Bangladesh received international awards such as MDG Award, South-South Award and Navy Award in recognition of the success achieved in the health sector.

As part of the day’s programmes, Zahid Maleque said Dhaka city will be decorated with festoons, posters and banners. Promotional audio and video will be shown at different places in the city including the SAARC Foara (fountain). Discussion meeting and rally will be organised on April 28 at all division, district and upazila levels and community clinics, he added.

Community Clinic Health Assistance Trust Board will organise a discussion at Krishibid Institute at 3pm on April 30. Professor Dr. Syed Modasser Ali will chair it while health and family welfare minister Zahid Maleque will attend it as chief guest.