Gazipur: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the nursing education and training in Bangladesh will be upgraded to international standards as the country needs a large number of trained nurses.

“Alongside foreign trainings (for nurses), we’re also taking measures so that its (training) standard in the country could be upgraded to international one,” she said adding that the government has already created a scope for oversees trainings for nurses, the UNB reported.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the 1st Graduation Ceremony of Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Memorial KPJ Specialised Hospital and Nursing College at Kashimpur here.

“Now we need huge nurses. Besides, specialised and trained nurses will also be needed as we set up various specialised (healthcare) institutes,” Sheikh Hasina said.

Terming the nursing a respectable profession, she said the profession was always neglected in the country.  “I think service like nursing is the most respectable profession,” she said questioning which profession can be more respectable than serving an ailing person and standing beside the distressed humanity?

The Prime Minister urged the nursing graduates to utilise their acquired knowledge and experiences in serving the distressed humanity.

Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib Memorial KPJ Specialised Hospital and Nursing College is a humanitarian initiative of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust. The trust built the specialised hospital and nursing college on its land.

President of the trust Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, also vice president of the trust, and former Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak inaugurated this hospital on November 18, 2013.

Later, on April 8, 2015, Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the nursing college.

Since its inception on April 11, 1994 at Bangabandhu House on Dhanmondi-32, Bangabandhu Trust has been conducting various welfare activities.

Sheikh Rehana and Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque were present at the stage.

Vice-Chancellor and also Dean of School of Medicine of Malaysian KPJ Healthcare University College Prof Dato' Lokman Saim spoke on the occasion as the graduation speaker.

Chief Executive Officer of Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib Memorial KPJ Specialised Hospital and Nursing College Taufik Bin Ismail delivered the welcome speech.

Students of the nursing college staged the welcome song and dance.

The Prime Minister distributed certificates among the graduates. A total of 79 students successfully completed their graduation from the nursing college.

Khairul Islam, a student of the 2014-15 academic session, spoke on behalf of the graduates.  

Three graduates (BSc in Nursing) Rozina Jasmine, Kamrun Nahar and Rina Akter received Prime Minister Medals for their outstanding results.