Speakers at a dialogue on Monday (1 July 2013) called for taking necessary steps to improve healthcare facilities for char and coastal people.

People in char and coastal areas do not get adequate healthcare facilities, they said, adding that people of those regions deprived of improved healthcare services due to poor communication network.

The speakers were addressing the dialogue titled ‘Maternal health and communication: Problems and people’s expectation’ at the National Press Club in the city.

Member of Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Dr Sirajul Akbar, member of Parliamentary Standing Committee on the ministry of Shipping Begum Habibur Nahar addresses the dialogue. Dr Samina Chowdhury and Prof Mesbah Kamal, among others, also spoke on the occasion.

The country witnessed a remarkable progress in the health sector during the tenure of the present government, Dr Sirajul said, adding, “We have reopened 12000 community clinics to reach healthcare facilities to doorsteps of the people.” Child and maternal mortality rate has reduced significantly due to effective steps taken by the present government, he added.

Other speakers said rate of child and maternal mortality is still high in the char and coastal regions due to lack of insufficient healthcare facilities.

This session is organized by Bangladesh Nari Progat Sangha (BNPS), Sandwip, Patiya, Chittagong Public policy Forum and Sandwip Comittee of Dhaka with the support of The Asia Foundation, USAID and UKaid.