Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah on Wednesday said that the United Nations’ recognition of Community Clinic is a matter of pride for the whole nation.

“The UN adopted a health related resolution on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's innovative model or innovative initiative ‘Community Clinic’, where the ultimate recognition was given to the concept of community clinic of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said.

The principal secretary said this at a press briefing at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on the occasion of getting the global recognition for the ‘Community Clinic’ as a resolution on the community-based healthcare in Bangladesh was adopted at the UN.

The resolution titled 'Community-based primary health care: a participatory and inclusive approach to achieving universal health services' was unanimously adopted at the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday.

He said that all Bangladeshis can be proud of the UN recognition for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's initiative.

Through this resolution, he said, Bangladesh was recognised as an exemplary country for primary health care in the international arena.

Tofazzel termed the community clinic as a unique example of the 'public-private partnership' model.

He said that the community clinic is the largest example of public private partnership in Bangladesh.

In this initiative the land is given by the people while constructing buildings and appointing the health service providers and all other materials, including medicines and equipment, are being given by the government.

The principal secretary said that the UN resolution advised other countries to implement Bangladesh's community clinic concept.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's initiative is a shining example of the UN partnership in providing health services and healthcare.”

Highlighting the contribution of community clinics to the improvement of the health sector in Bangladesh, Tofazzel said all the improvement of health services, the increase in the average life expectancy of people or new creativity in the field of health services started through the community clinics.

He mentioned that the ‘Community Clinic’ has been recognised as an outstanding institution for providing treatment of all diseases, including primary health care, maternal health, newborn and child health, family planning services, nutrition services, EPI programmes and all communicable and non-communicable diseases.

"This community clinic is a big milestone in Bangladesh for ensuring health services for all by 2030".

The community clinics introduced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina helped in reducing maternal mortality, infant mortality and newborn deaths in Bangladesh, he added.