The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely an absence of disease. Health is universally regarded as an important index of human development. Access to basic health care is considered a fundamental human right.

To keep in mind this thing and to create an entry point for a constructive debate about human rights and health a cartoon, photography and painting exhibition titled 'The Right to Health' was inaugurated at Drik Gallery in the city yesterday. The two-week long exhibition is a compilation of different form of art media like cartoon, painting, personal stories and photography.

Through paintings, cartoons, photos and personal stories the participants at the exhibition shared their perspectives and perceptions on the right to health and in joint effort contributed to solutions that continue to improve people's health in Bangladesh.

AMM Nasir Uddin, Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,

inaugurated the exhibition as chief guest, while Ola Hallgren, Charge d' Affaires of the Embassy of Sweden and Heiner Schnelle, Head of the Development Cooperation of Germany Embassy, were present as special guests on the occasion.

Bangladesh Government, GTZ, Sida and Development Cooperation of Germany jointly organized the show implemented by the Drik Gallery.

Nasir Uddin said, "With this exhibition we want to celebrate the progress that has been made in the health sector in Bangladesh over the past decades while acknowledging that challenges still remain."

Some 69 artists submitted 140 cartoons and 34 artists submitted 61 paintings in the exhibition. Of them, 33 cartoons of 22 artists and 16 paintings of 13 artists are on display at the show. Therefore, 32 photographs are also on display at the exhibition.

Artists Nisar Hossain and Kanak Chapa Chakma were judges for the selection of paintings and cartoonists Shishir Bhattacharya and Ahsan Habib were judges for the selection cartoons in the exhibition.

The exhibition remains open for all till November 12 everyday from 3:00pm to 8:00pm.