Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday urged all UN members states and development partners to invest resources in dealing with mental health and disabilities as part of primary healthcare programme. 

“I call everyone, all member states and development partners, to invest resources in dealing with mental health and disabilities as part of primary healthcare programme,” she said.

The Prime Minister made the call while addressing the high-panel side event on 'Sustainable universal health coverage: comprehensive primary care inclusive of mental health and disabilities’, organised by the Bangladesh Permanent Mission at the UN Headquarters.

She said recognising mental health as an integral part of primary healthcare has many advantages.

“First, early diagnosis and intervention help early recovery. Secondly, in the case of comorbidity or presence of two or more diseases in one individual, treatment of mental health helps the remission of the other disease,” she pointed out.

“Thirdly, community clinics can also provide continuous follow-up care in case of any treatment prescribed by hospitals,” she said.

Hasina went on saying, “We need access to medicines and affordable quality services through trained health personnel, and efficient delivery system. We also need special strategies to prevent mental disorders.”

Acknowledging the critical role of health services at the grassroots, the Prime Minister said, “We introduced ‘Community Health Clinics’ (CHC) during the first term of our government in 1998.”

“Over 14,000 clinics, located primarily in rural areas, are set up through public-private partnership. To establish such clinics, land is donated by the community and government constructs building, provides skilled personnel, medicine and equipment free of cost,” she said.

The Prime Minister said community clinics are now recognised as an effective model for providing universal health coverage, which is inclusive of preventive mental health services and basic care for persons with disabilities. 

The government adopted ‘Persons with Disabilities’ Rights & Protection Act 2013’ and ‘Mental Health Act’ in 2018. Bangladesh is now developing a ‘National Strategic Plan on Mental Health’ giving priority to a multi-stakeholder, comprehensive and holistic community-based mental health services, she said.

Today, Hasina said, the international community will come forward sharing their valuable experiences and help identify technical and financial resources.

She noted that health is an integral part of the development journey and essential for continued economic and social progress. 

"The ‘Universal Health Coverage’ helps ensure access to quality health services without adding financial hardship to the disadvantaged people. The ‘Primary Health Care’ also provides essential health care to the people.”

The Prime Minister mentioned that ‘Target 3.4’ of SDGs emphasises promotion of mental health and wellbeing as part of health security. Disability is also recognised as a global public health issue with human rights dimensions as well as a development priority. 

She said the WHO global action plan on disability also envisioned an inclusive society in which all persons with disabilities can live in dignity and equal opportunity. 

“In Bangladesh, we’re pursuing both the issues seriously in formulating our health policies and programmes,” the Prime Minister said.

Bhutanese Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering, Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister and also Minister of Health and Population Upendra Yadav and WHO Regional Director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh spoke at the event chaired by Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Zahid Maleque.

Adviser to the Director General of WHO on Mental Health and Autism and also the Chairperson of National Advisory Committee on Autism and NDDs, Bangladesh Saima Wazed Hossain, Director General of Directorate General of Health Services, Bangladesh Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Chief of Health and Associate Director (Programme Division) of Unicef Dr Stefan Swartling Peterson, and CEO and Founder of Global Partners United Evelyn Cherow were among expert discussants at the event.