Each upazila to get community vision centre: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government will set up community vision centres in all upazilas across the country in phases to provide better eyecare services to local people.

“Eyecare services are costly. General people can’t afford these. I’m not only the prime minister, but also the daughter of the Father of the Nation. So, it’s my responsibility to ensure healthcare services for every national of the country. I’ve been trying to perform this responsibility as well,” she said.

The PM was inaugurating operations of community vision centres set up at 70 upazila health complexes in 20 districts under five divisions via video conference.

Hasina joined the virtual inaugural ceremony, held at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital in the capital, from the Gono Bhaban.

She said the government has already taken up a plan to establish 110 more community vision centres at the upazila level.

The PM said healthy people are needed to properly take the country forward. “Healthy people are required to build a healthy Bangladesh.”

Mentioning that the government is providing free vitamin-A, different vaccines and medicines to people, Hasina said, “We’ve been creating scopes so that people can stay healthy everywhere.”

Later, she exchanged views with locals and stakeholders of three upazilas — Pirganj of Rangpur, Nachol of Chapainawabganj and Haluaghat of Mymensingh — through the video conference.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque also spoke at the function conducted by Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus.

Health Secretary Abdul Mannan delivered the welcome speech, while Director of the National Institute of Ophthalmology (NIO) Prof Dr Golam Mostafa described the NIO activities briefly.

Golam Mostafa said the prime minister inaugurated operations of community vision centres in 20 upazilas in 2018.

He said there is a plan to set up 110 more community vision centres in the country by June 2023.

Stating that the government has transformed the country into “Digital Bangladesh”, Hasina mentioned that now it has become easy to get healthcare services as there has been marked development in telemedicine systems.

“Now people can avail themselves of the services from expert physicians through the telemedicine system staying at home. Now our Bangladesh is Digital Bangladesh. So, we’ve taken the digital services to the doorsteps of people,” she added.

Hasina said the congenital (birth) blindness has almost removed from the country as the government provides treatment to pregnant mothers.

Now people get healthcare services and 30 free medicines from community clinics across the country, she said, adding that locals, particularly women, can easily get the services and medicines from the clinics.

About Covid-19, the PM called upon all to follow the health protection protocols, including wearing face masks, washing hands frequently to remain clean, and thus check the coronavirus.

Hasina also urged people to get vaccinated in a disciplined manner after registration so that no chaos occurs in the Covid-19 vaccination centres as happened in the past.