UNB, Dhaka :
Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, now in New Delhi, on Friday said the government is working towards achieving the universal health coverage though efficient, equitable, and high-quality services.
“Private sector contribution can play a vital role in framing partnerships,” he said mentioning that the country’s next five-year health sector programme starts in July 2016.
The Health Minister said, the private sector has been contributing a lot to the progress of Bangladesh’s health sector. “The private sector along with government initiatives has been contributing significantly and working relentlessly towards ending preventable child and maternal deaths. A significant progress has been made… still, there is a long way to go,” he added.
The minister was addressing a two-day seminar on ‘Global Call to Action Summit 2015: Global Partnership Impact’ in New Delhi. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the seminar on Thursday attended by ministers and senior officials from different countries and high officials of UN, Unicef, WHO.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali also attended the seminar, according to a message received here.
Countries and governments, with the support from international agencies, are working relentlessly towards ending preventable child and maternal deaths. Nasim said, “We’re encouraging the private organisations to come forward and help us provide health, population, and nutrition services.”
He said, Bangladesh government has sought assistance from private sector partners to advance health promotion efforts in the areas of immunization and vaccination campaigns, Vitamin A distribution, anthelmintic drug distribution, maternal care and safe delivery, and family planning.
“These private sector partners have voluntarily contributed resources towards raising community awareness, increasing community participation, and distributing health promotion products.” The rapid growth of private hospitals in the country has contributed significantly towards an increasing in facility deliveries and thus saved the lives of countless mothers, newborns, infants. Some of these hospitals received GOB funding to support their operations, said the Health Minister.
He mentioned that with the support of USAID, they have successfully leveraged support from the Laerdal Foundation that provides us the needed equipment, kits, and materials to train all the health providers across Bangladesh to manage newborn asphyxia.
The Glaxo SmithKline is investing 25% of its profit for providing maternal, newborn, and child health services in hard to reach areas of the country, he said. Another example of a successful public-private partnership is the mobile phone initiative that disseminates text messages on maternal health issues and services, in partnership with the mobile phone companies, such as Grameen Phone, Bangla Link, Robi, Airtel and Tele Talk. Many of these companies operate health hotline and tele medicine services.
While citing private sector contributions to the health and well-being of the Bangladeshi people, he mentioned the important contribution of the USAUD-supported social marketing program to promote public health products and services.
“The wide availability of oral rehydration salts, Zinc salts, Zinc tablets, and micronutrient powder on the private market prevents deaths from diarrhea, and iron-deficiency anemia among children. Also the socially-marketed safe delivery kits promote safe birth practices at the community level.” He said Bangladesh Government has given priority on reduction of maternal mortality and has taken many initiatives which are reflected in the third health, population and nutrition sector.
Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, now in New Delhi, on Friday said the government is working towards achieving the universal health coverage though efficient, equitable, and high-quality services.
“Private sector contribution can play a vital role in framing partnerships,” he said mentioning that the country’s next five-year health sector programme starts in July 2016.
The Health Minister said, the private sector has been contributing a lot to the progress of Bangladesh’s health sector. “The private sector along with government initiatives has been contributing significantly and working relentlessly towards ending preventable child and maternal deaths. A significant progress has been made… still, there is a long way to go,” he added.
The minister was addressing a two-day seminar on ‘Global Call to Action Summit 2015: Global Partnership Impact’ in New Delhi. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the seminar on Thursday attended by ministers and senior officials from different countries and high officials of UN, Unicef, WHO.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali also attended the seminar, according to a message received here.
Countries and governments, with the support from international agencies, are working relentlessly towards ending preventable child and maternal deaths. Nasim said, “We’re encouraging the private organisations to come forward and help us provide health, population, and nutrition services.”
He said, Bangladesh government has sought assistance from private sector partners to advance health promotion efforts in the areas of immunization and vaccination campaigns, Vitamin A distribution, anthelmintic drug distribution, maternal care and safe delivery, and family planning.
“These private sector partners have voluntarily contributed resources towards raising community awareness, increasing community participation, and distributing health promotion products.” The rapid growth of private hospitals in the country has contributed significantly towards an increasing in facility deliveries and thus saved the lives of countless mothers, newborns, infants. Some of these hospitals received GOB funding to support their operations, said the Health Minister.
He mentioned that with the support of USAID, they have successfully leveraged support from the Laerdal Foundation that provides us the needed equipment, kits, and materials to train all the health providers across Bangladesh to manage newborn asphyxia.
The Glaxo SmithKline is investing 25% of its profit for providing maternal, newborn, and child health services in hard to reach areas of the country, he said. Another example of a successful public-private partnership is the mobile phone initiative that disseminates text messages on maternal health issues and services, in partnership with the mobile phone companies, such as Grameen Phone, Bangla Link, Robi, Airtel and Tele Talk. Many of these companies operate health hotline and tele medicine services.
While citing private sector contributions to the health and well-being of the Bangladeshi people, he mentioned the important contribution of the USAUD-supported social marketing program to promote public health products and services.
“The wide availability of oral rehydration salts, Zinc salts, Zinc tablets, and micronutrient powder on the private market prevents deaths from diarrhea, and iron-deficiency anemia among children. Also the socially-marketed safe delivery kits promote safe birth practices at the community level.” He said Bangladesh Government has given priority on reduction of maternal mortality and has taken many initiatives which are reflected in the third health, population and nutrition sector.
