The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rajshahi

Speakers at a discussion here today underlined the need for adopting a special programme for food security in the region and suggested a particular allocation to this field in the national budget of 2008-09.

Terming Rajshahi Division as a poverty-prone region, they said the condition of public health is acute giving rise to various diseases due mainly to malnutrition.

The Conscious Citizens Committee (CCC), a sister organisation of the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), and Health and Environment Journalists Forum (HEJF) jointly arranged the session "Rajshahi's Health Services: Pre-budget" at the GDRC conference Centre.

HEJF Joint Secretary Akbarul Hassan Millat presented a concept paper on the issue with CCC Senior Member Raziuddin Ahmed in the chair. HEJF President Mustafizur Rahman Khan Alam moderated the session.

The speakers underscored the need for enhancing budgetary allocation for poverty alleviation to ensure proper healthcare services for the poor and marginal people.

They observed that the healthcare services would not be ensured for the distressed people without freeing themselves from the vicious cycle of poverty. Apart from increasing the budgetary allocation, state control on the health sector should be intensified to bring transparency and accountability in the public health service, they said.

RCC Ward Commissioner Shahnaz Begum Shikha, BLAST Coordinator Advocate Abdus Samad, NGO leaders Professor Fazlul Haque, SKL Lalon, Sarwar-E-Kamal, Advocate Deel Sitara Chuni, Journalist Rashed Ebne Obayed and Kaniz Akter Banu, among others, took part in the discussion.

Referring to mismanagement and irregularities in the health sector, the speakers urged the government to form a long-term healthcare regulatory commission to help the poor people get private health services.