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The country’s first specialised dental Unit designed exclusively for children with special needs has begun its journey in Dhaka, marking a historic milestone in inclusive healthcare.
The health facility was inaugurated at the faith Bangladesh’s Lalmatia campus at a ceremony attended by guests, students at the organisation’s school for special children, their parents, and members of the faith Bangladesh family, according to a press release.
The newly inaugurated Dental Unit will provide safe, child-sensitive, and specialised dental care for children with special needs.
The unit is equipped to offer routine and advanced dental procedures, including treatment under anaesthesia when necessary, an essential service often unavailable in conventional dental clinics.
Dr. Md. Shahadat Hossain, Additional Secretary (retd) and Director of Janata Bank PLC, graced the programme as the chief guest and Md. Jahirul Islam, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, as the special guest.
faith Bangladesh Executive Director Nilufer Ahmed Karim and Board Member Dr. Mohammad Zahirul Islam, faith Bangladesh Institute Advisor and former secretary Shahjahan Ali Mollah, and famed dental surgeon Dr. Rezaul Ahsan also spoke at the opening ceremony, which also featured a Preventive Dental Care Seminar and a Dental Screening Program for the children.
The chief guest and special guest praised the initiative and emphasised the urgent need for specialised medical facilities tailored to neurodiverse children, an underserved area in Bangladesh’s health system.
Chief guest Md. Shahadat Hossain said children with special needs often face maltreatment and cruelty from society and even from educational institutions. “We all need to change our attitude to these children and take efforts to make them national resources.”
Mentioning that there are 1.6-1.8 million special needs children in the country, he said specialised dental care should be expanded to them all, and the affluent section should extend their helping hand to this end.
Special guest Md. Jahirul Islam said a better future has to be built for the children with special needs through concerted efforts of all concerned.
faith Bangladesh Executive Director Nilufer Ahmed Karim said the Dental Unit reflects the organisation’s commitment to compassionate, inclusive healthcare.
She said, "Treating children with special needs is not just medical care, it’s an emotional journey, it’s a human responsibility to address the worries of a family, the discomfort of a child, and the invisible need for safety and love."
Nilufer Ahmed Karim noted that the idea for this specialised unit emerged from recurring experiences of families who struggled to find safe, empathetic dental treatment environments for their children.
"This unit is a symbol of love, humanity, and responsibility. Today's promise is that our children's pain will no longer be ignored. They will be treated in a safe, comfortable, and compassionate environment," she said.
Dr. Mohammad Zahirul Islam said the special children deserve empathy from society, not sympathy, so that they can live a normal life.
At the ceremony, faith Bangladesh announced two upcoming specialised healthcare services for children with special needs -- a dedicated eye care service and a specialised asthma centre.
These initiatives align with the organisation’s broader vision of providing integrated support addressing physical, behavioural, and emotional wellbeing for children with developmental challenges.
Parents, caregivers, teachers, and health professionals participated in the programme.