Infant mortality rate decreased for govt awareness programmes: Nasim

Infant mortality rate has decreased due to awareness programmes taken by the Awami League government.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim made the comment on Wednesday.

“Right now 30 infants out of every thousand are dying in the country which will come down to 18 by 2022,” he said.

Nasim came up with the observations while addressing the inaugural function of National Newborn Health Programme at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital, reports BSS.

“We will be able to achieve our expected goals in health sector before time….Apart from public institutions, private ones are also making huge contribution to the sector. We have brought down mother and infant mortality rates significantly. Even we have played important role in ensuring healthcare services to Rohingyas, which was acclaimed worldwide,” he said.

Talking about the farsightedness of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the health minister said the premier has also made plans for things to be faced in the next hundred years. “She is working with that goal and I would like to urge people of the country to bring this government back in power to continue the development process,” Nasim added.

The health minister hoped that there would be no crisis of doctors and ambulances in the country, adding, “We have appointed 10,000 nurses, 1,200 midwives and seven thousand doctors already. We will appoint 10,000 more physicians soon through PSC.”

Presided over by additional director general of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) AHM Enayet Hossain, the function was also attended by DGHS director Dr Sultan Mohammad Shamsuzzaman, Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council president Prof Dr Md Shahidullah and Director General of Directorate General of Family Planning Dr Mohammad Sharif.