‘Integrated healthcare services must be strengthened further’

Mentioning that integrated healthcare services must be strengthened further, former advisor to the caretaker government and PPRC Chairman Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said the demand for healthcare services is increasing rapidly in the country due to accelerated urbanization.   

He came up with the observation while delivering the keynote speech as the chief guest at a progress review and discussion workshop on the "Urban Public Health System Strengthening Programme (2020 -2024)," held at the DPHIE Auditorium in the capital on Monday.   

Safetynet Bangladesh organized this discussion in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA, Save the Children and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Co-operatives of Bangladesh, said a media release.

Dr. Hossain Zillur said health services cannot be ensured solely by curing diseases. In such a context, the US CDC and Safetynet Bangladesh have earned praise for their effective measures in disease prevention in urban areas.  

Not just in metropolitan cities but nationwide efforts should be made to implement effective measures for disease prevention. He emphasized that not only the government but development partners should also step forward to support this cause.

Launched in 2020, this initiative has significantly enhanced public health capacities in 12 city corporations across Bangladesh.

Zillur Rahman also praised the recruitment of public health epidemiologists in these 12 city corporations. 

The workshop was chaired by Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) Dr Syed Hasan Abdullah, Country Director of Safetynet Bangladesh.

Abu Hena Morshed Zaman, secretary of the Local Government Division, and Dr. Neely, country director of the US CDC Bangladesh, were present as the special guests.

Over the past four years, the Safetynet programme has taken several impactful steps to improve urban public health. It has run public health campaigns focusing on non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and obesity, as well as on communicable diseases like dengue and Hepatitis B, providing crucial information to thousands of urban residents, added the release.

bd-pratidin/GR