President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Photo: Collected
President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday (30 April) called upon all political parties of the country to give priority to public interest in adopting and implementing political programmes.
He was addressing the function at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium on Community Clinic's 24th founding anniversary in Dhaka.
Stating that the main aim and objective of politics is public welfare, he said public interest should be given priority in all decisions taken by governments and politicians.
"Who or what government took the decision is not important - what matters is whether the decision is taken in the public interest or whether the public interest is being protected," he said.
He also said subverting public interest for political expediency exposes the vindictive nature of politics.
"After the change of power in the 2001 election, this popular initiative to get health care for marginalised people was stopped. It was a vindictive anti-public interest decision of the then government," he added.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina started the community clinic on April 26, 2000, in Gimadanga of Gopalganj district to ensure health care for the marginalised people of the country.
He also requested to avoid such programmes as the development and progress of the country is hindered and the suffering of the people increases.
"Work together irrespective of party affiliations and opinions to make all the public interest-related initiatives of the government successful," he added.
President Shahabuddin put emphasis on extending all-out cooperation to ensure the sustainable progress of the community clinic, a public welfare institution of the country.
Noting that public interest should be given priority in every aspect of the government's activities, the president said, "In addition to food, clothing, shelter and education, multifaceted programs are adopted and implemented to reach medical services at people’s doorsteps to improve public health."
Mentioning that community clinics have become the place of people’s trust in terms of medical care for marginalized people, especially women and children, the president said the utility and reputation of the community clinic has spread beyond the village-town to the national level and even around the world as well.
He said a total of the ‘Ten Special Initiatives’, including community clinic activities, shelter house, electricity for all, my home my farm, social security programme were taken by the government to materialize the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to build a ‘Sonar Bangla’ and to fulfil the basic needs of the people.
He said this historic proposal by the United Nations under the title of 'Community Clinic', ‘The Sheikh Hasina Initiative’ is an important international recognition of Bangladesh government's innovative leadership in primary health care in public-private partnership.
He also sought united work in implementing all the steps taken to ensure the economic and social security of the people.
At present, 14,173 community clinics are working as a model of public-private partnership and providing health education at the grassroots level along with creating public awareness, he said.
The president also highly appreciated the contribution of community clinics in implementing mass vaccination programmes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bangladesh has won many prestigious international awards like the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Award, South-South Award, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) Award and Vaccine Hero Award in recognition of the achievements in the health sector, he said, adding that this achievement of the prime minister has brightened the image of Bangladesh in the world and made the nation proud.
Professor Dr. Syed Modasser Ali presided over the function while health and family welfare minister Samanta Lal Sen, health services division secretary of the Health and Family Affairs Ministry Md Jahangir Alam, additional secretary AKM Nurunnabi Kabir and line director of Community Based Health Care (CBHC) Dr. Md Qaiyum Talukder also spoke there.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's personal physician Emeritus Professor Dr. ABM Abdullah, the guest lecturer of John Hopkins University, freedom fighter Dr. Ahmad Al Kabir, and Director of Gopalganj Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Eye Hospital and Training Center Professor Dr. Nahid Ferdous were awarded 'The Sheikh Hasina Initiative' gold medal for their outstanding contribution towards the establishment and further development of community clinics in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, a documentary titled “Smart Community Clinic - Globalization of Community Clinic” was screened on the occasion.
Messenger/Sumon
