Bangladesh army interested in Community Clinics: DG health

The director general for health services has advised the government to give some of the Community Clinics to the Bangladesh army in the interest of “quality” construction.

Prof Deen Mohammad Noorul Haque on Monday said he had already talked with the relevant ‘major general’ of the army and “they (army) are interested in doing that.”

The director general was speaking at the inauguration of a new branding campaign of Community Clinic activities in Dhaka.

Health Minister Mohammed Nasim inaugurated the campaign. Syed Modasser Ali, former Health Adviser to the Prime Minister, was also present, among others.

Community Clinic is a flagship project of the Awami League government that serves people in remote villages through primary healthcare. The concept is to build at least one clinic for every 6OOO people.

A community healthcare provider leads the clinic and refers patients to  upper facilities. So far, 13,136 such clinics have been built, where 48O million patients have been provided with services.

The director general said 5OO new clinics would be built with Japanese support. He was in favour of the clinics being set up with assistance from the army.

The Bangladesh army has been assisting in constructions ranging from mega projects like the Padma Bridge to roads and highways.

The director general told bdnews24.com, on the sidelines of the event, that it would be a policy decision of the government whether it would use the army to build Community Clinics.

“But they (army( are working in many sectors. They are helping us build our new burn and plastic surgery institute. So I think they can also help us in building quality structures for Community Clinics.”

Creative Media Limited will brand the activities of community clinics for the next two months by using logo, brand slogan, signboards, stickers, billboards, leaflets, TVCs and online branding with the internet newspaper bdnews24.com.

‘Sheikh Hasina’s contribution, Community Clinic saves life’ is the slogan of the campaign.

The health minister said he would visit some clinics as part of the campaign and instructed the local health authorities not to allow political posters in Community Clinics.