PM orders appointment of 10,000 nurses

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered the appointment of 10,000 more nurses in public hospitals to bring dynamism to healthcare services.

She also announced that nursing institutes would be established in every district and two more child hospitals would be constructed in the capital and one in each division.

Sheikh Hasina was speaking at the inaugural event of the World Breastfeeding Week 2014 observations at Osmani Memorial Hall on Wednesday.

“We’re appointing 7,000 doctors and assistant doctors, but there are only 7,000 new positions for nurses. This is inconsistent. I will ask that at least 10,000 more nurses be appointed,” she said at the event.

The prime minister assured that finance would not be a problem, and asked the authorities to allow students from all tracks to enter graduate nursing courses.

She emphasised the importance of the nursing profession and spoke about her government’s efforts to develop nursing.

“There was no graduate nursing system. We have changed that. We also created nursing institutes, and we aim to put them in every district,” she said.

Hasina spoke about making nursing a class II position and creating opportunities for nurses to go abroad for higher training and degrees.

“All over the world nurses do not only take care of the patients, they conduct primary investigations and give reports to doctors. We want our healthcare system to reach that level,” she said.

In the last five civil service exams, the government appointed 2,440 assistant surgeons and 196 assistant dental surgeons.

Another 4,133 assistant surgeons were appointed on ad hoc basis, the prime minister said.

On Thursday, 6,221 assistant surgeons from the 33rd BCS would be joining work, she said.

Hasina said child hospitals were under construction in Rajshahi, Barisal and Sylhet.

She stressed the importance of breastfeeding for the normal growth of children. “Breast milk is the only balanced and safe food for a child up to six months,” she said.

She also urged family members to remain careful about the health of pregnant women and mothers.

Sheikh Hasina stressed on setting up day-care centres in public and private offices to ensure that working mothers could breastfeed their children.

Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, State Minister for Health Zahid Malek, Health Secretary MM Niazuddin and senior health officials also spoke on the occasion.