DHAKA, Dec 11, 2022 (BSS) – The International Universal Health Coverage Day (UHC Day) will be observed in the country tomorrow like elsewhere across the globe in a befitting manner.

This year's theme of the day is 'Build the World We Want: A Healthy Future for All.'

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued a message on the eve of the day wishing all-out success of the programmes.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message said the greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman undertook various activities including the establishment of hospitals for the development of the country's medical system immediately after independence of the country.

In the war-torn country, he took groundbreaking initiatives to expand healthcare at the district, police station and union levels to bring medical care to the doorsteps of common people, the premier added.

Bangabandhu initiated revolutionary changes in the development of health sector and medical science research in Bangladesh, she said.

He took multifaceted steps including adding health as a part of the fundamental rights of the constitution, giving importance to health in the first five-year plan, establishing rural health centers, giving first class status to doctors and forming Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC), she mentioned.

The premier went on saying that the Awami League (AL)-led government is following the footsteps of the father of the nation and is taking and implementing comprehensive development programmes in the health sector in the last 14 years to deliver healthcare to the people's doorsteps.

Various steps have been taken including the establishment of new hospitals and nursing institutes to ensure up-to-date health care by formulating pro-health policies, she said, adding that as a result, significant progress has been achieved in the health sector of Bangladesh.

The number of doctors, nurses, supporting staff has been increased along with increasing beds in hospitals across the country, she continued.

About 18,500 community clinics and union health centers have been set up across the country to deliver healthcare at the doorsteps of the people at the village level, she said, adding that access to quality healthcare required for the people of all strata of the country has become easier.

The government has achieved extraordinary success by providing primary medical care to the rural poor and marginalized people and specialist medical services for all levels of people, reducing child and maternal mortality through the use of information technology in the health sector, providing family planning services for mother and child health protection at the field level, achieving SDG targets and ensuring healthcare for all levels of people, she said.

Bangladesh's image has been brightened around the world due to the timely steps taken in the detection and management of the coronavirus infection and the implementation of vaccination programmes, Sheikh Hasina added.

"In order to ensure universal health care and the overall development of the country's health system, I hope that private organizations and all concerned will contribute from their respective positions along side government initiatives," she said.

The premier also urged all to play more dynamic roles for the improvement in medical education, treatment, service provision and research activities.