DHAKA, May 17, 2023 (BSS) - Prime Minister's Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah today said it is a matter of pride for the nation that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's special initiative 'Community Clinic' has got the United Nations (UN) recognition as 'the Sheikh Hasina Initiative'. 
 
"You would be glad to hear that the UN adopted a health related resolution on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's innovative model or innovative initiative 'Community Clinic', where the ultimate recognition was given to the community clinic concept of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," he said.

The principal secretary said this at a press briefing at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) here on the occasion of getting the global recognition for the 'Community Clinic' as a resolution on community-based healthcare in Bangladesh was adopted at the UN. 

The resolution titled 'Community-based primary health care: a participatory and inclusive approach to achieving universal health services' was unanimously adopted at the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday.

"We all Bangladeshis can be proud of the UN recognition for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's initiative. Through this resolution, Bangladesh was recognized as an exemplary country for primary health care in the international arena," said Tofazzel.

Terming the community clinic as a unique example of the 'public private partnership' model, he said the community clinic is the largest example of public private partnership in Bangladesh, where the land is given by the people and constructing buildings, and appointing he health service providers and all other the materials, including medicines and equipments, are being given by the government.

Noting that the UN resolution advised other countries to implement Bangladesh's community clinic concept, the principal secretary said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's initiative is a shining example of UN partnership in providing health services and healthcare.

Highlighting the contribution of community clinics to the improvement of the health sector in Bangladesh, Tofazzel said all the improvement of health services, the increase in the average life expectancy of people or new creativity in the field of health services were started through the community clinics.
 
 
The Community Clinic has been recognized as an outstanding institution for providing treatment of all diseases, including primary health care, maternal health, newborn and child health, family planning services, nutrition services, EPI programs and all communicable and non-communicable diseases, he added. 

Mentioning the importance of community clinics to attain the target of ensuring the health services for all, the principal secretary said, "This community clinic is a big milestone in Bangladesh for ensuring health services for all by 2030".

The community clinics introduced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina helped in reducing maternal mortality, infant mortality and newborn deaths in Bangladesh, he said.