Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s Standing Committee President Saber Hossain Chowdhury was present as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony at DAM’s Dhanmondi head office.
Dhaka North City Corporation’s Chief Health Officer Brig Gen Md Mominur Rahman Mamun and the Second Century Ambassador of Lions’ Club International, Lion Professor Dr M Fakrul Islam were also present at the event as special guests.
The chief speaker of the event was former District Governor of Lions’ Club International (District 315 A2) Lion Sheikh Anisur Rahman. The inauguration programme was presided over by DAM President Kazi Rafiqul Alam while Director of DAM’s Health Sector Iqbal Masud delivered the welcome speech.
Applauding the initiative, Saber Hossain said this forum is an appreciable initiative to reduce dependency towards foreign support for the healthcare of underprivileged population in Bangladesh.
“There was a time when people were solely dependent on the government to get better healthcare services. If non-governmental organisations take effective initiatives such as this ‘Shastho Shurokkha Forum’ by Dhaka Ahsania Mission, then better healthcare services can be offered to more people in the society,” he said.
“I believe the AMSSF will provide new direction towards sustainable services in healthcare and I’m proud not only to inaugurate the service, but will also be engaging more with this noble cause,” he added.
Masud said a large portion of the population falls under the underprivileged group who cannot afford proper health services when necessary. The main objective of the forum is to ensure an institutional form of individual and corporate participation in healthcare system, especially for the underprivileged population.
According to World Health Organisation, almost 5.2 million people in Bangladesh are surrendering to poverty each year due to expenditures related to health services. Each family spends more than 10 percent of its total expenditure for emergency medical care while 14.1 percent of the population is facing sudden poverty for such reasons.
Additionally, the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that after the liberation of Bangladesh, the production of staple crops has grown three to five folds; however, the malnourished population has risen to 4,00,000 alone in the previous year. Almost half of the nation’s women population still suffers from Anemia.
Formed to challenge and provide better solutions to all these issues, the forum is starting with 80 regular and lifetime members. Any individual or corporation can receive membership (regular, life or patron) by making regular or coeval monetary donation. The regulatory and financial activities of the forum will be managed by an 11-member executive committee.