10,000 more community clinics to be set up: Nasim

Heath Minister Mohammad Nasim on Thursday said the government would set up 10,000 more community clinics across the country.
He said this while inaugurating an event on the occasion of the 18th founding anniversary of the community clinic at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.
Dr Abul Kalam Azad, additional director general of the Directorate General of Health Services presided over the programme.
Praising various activities of the government, Nasim also said the country will be more developed if this government comes to power again.
"Bangladesh has become well developed under the ruling government, and has introduced various phases of development," he said.
He also said the community clinic at the grassroots has brought the rural poor under the health care service which is being considered one of basic five fundamental needs of the people.
Health Minister also noted that very recently government has employed about ten thousands nurses and six thousands doctors.
"We are planning to employ another ten thousands doctors across the country," he said.
On the occasion, various programmes have been taken up at national and district levels across the country, including the capital city.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages marking the founding anniversary of the community clinic.
In his message, President Abdul Hamid said, "The community clinic is Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's one of the ten special initiatives founded in 1998 and it has been playing a significant role in reaching integrated health and family planning services at the doorsteps of rural people."
Currently, the community healthcare providers are reaching the health, family welfare and nutrition services to the doorsteps of the marginal people through some 13,500 community clinics across the country, he added.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the government so far has launched nearly 15,000 community clinics and union healthcare services to ensure healthcare services of the rural people.
"Our initiatives in the health sector have ensured safe motherhood," said the prime minister.
Revitalization of community clinic is the top-most priority project in health sector. The project was approved by ECNEC on September 17, 2009. The estimated project cost is Taka 2677.48 crore of which 2177.48 crore is of GOB and Taka 500 crore is project assistance.