Rural healthcare on right track
UN chief praises govt steps as he visits a Moulvibazar village
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon holds a baby during his visit to Mobarakpur community clinic in Moulvibazar district yesterday. The clinic is one of 145 such centres meant for ensuring proper healthcare to poor rural people, especially expecting mothers and children in the district. PHOTO: PID
When Piyarul Begum gave birth to her baby boy at a community clinic set up on a paddy field at a remote village four months ago, she could hardly imagine that a special event was coming to her life soon. Much to their surprise, Piyarul and her fellow villagers yesterday saw UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon walking through Mobarakpur village, 25 kilometres north-east of Moulvibazar town. As Ban picked up her son Imran from her lap, she could hardly believe her eyes. "Today I am the happiest woman in the world," said a beaming Piyarul as she was returning to her house after meeting the UN chief. Piyarul had every reason to be ecstatic, for to Ban Ki-moon, she and her son were the symbol of Bangladesh's progress in healthcare services to women and children. "Bangladesh is doing excellent job in providing healthcare to poor people, especially women and children. I want to showcase your exemplary success stories to other countries," Ban said while talking to a group of mothers in Mobarakpur village. Bangladesh government and the UN will invest more in healthcare services for women, children and youth in future, he said. The UN secretary general was all appreciative about the rural healthcare for women and children, saying Bangladesh was on the right track to meet the target of millennium development goals by reducing mortality rate of women and children. Ban Ki-moon and his wife Ban Soon-taek talked heartily to the villagers while looking at six babies who were born at the village healthcare centre. Ban, who visited the village just to see the community clinic and meet with adolescents and expecting mothers, said, "The health of women and children is the most important priority for the UN and the international community. I am glad to learn that this year no mother died while delivering baby in this village." The UN chief flew to the village from Dhaka on a helicopter. Amid tight security he along with his wife came to Mobarakpur community clinic at around 10:45am. The clinic is one of the 145 community clinics established in Moulvibazar district to reduce child mortality and provide proper health services to the expecting mothers. Ban visited an expecting woman at the clinic and planted a tree on its premises. Then he went to a nearby house where a group of mothers were waiting. The women apprised the UN chief of the services that they are getting through the community clinics regarding safe delivery and safe motherhood.
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