Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim on Monday said Bangladesh has marched much ahead in eradicating Malaria now and the days are not far away when the country would possibly be freed completely from Malaria.
The minister said this while inaugurating the programmes of the World Malaria Day at the Institute of Tropical Medicine at Faujdarhat in the port city Chittagong through a video conference from his office at the Secretariat in the capital. State Minister for Health Zahid Malique also spoke on the occasion through video conference.
Director General of the Health Directorate Prof Dr Deen Mohammad Nurul Haque, Director General of the Family Planning Directorate Wahid Hossain and senior officials of the ministry and directorates concerned, representatives of different associate and non-government organisations as well as senior officers of Chittagong Health and Family Planning Division, political leaders and members of the civil society were present at Faujdarhat in Chittagong on the occasion.
Referring to the announcement in regard to freeing the country from Polio, the Health Minister said, “Healthcare services have already reached the doorsteps of commoners across the country owing to sincerity and good intention of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh has achieved the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of the United Nations by reducing mortality rates of mothers and children.
The country has also achieved success in its struggle for eliminating Polio. Bangladesh has now been moving on the road to defeat various infectious diseases including Malaria and ‘Kalaazar’.”
He said that the government has already taken programme with the main target of focus on the hilly and different inaccessible areas with a view to eliminating Malaria from the country.
As part of the programme, the minister said the main programme of the day is being observed in Chittagong this time.
“We will be able to eradicate Malaria from the country soon by launching different programmes including conservancy and public awareness drives involving the people of Chittagong Hill Tracts region,” Mohammad Nasim hoped.
