Dhaka Bureau: Today, Sunday 6th November 2022, a consultative workshop titled ‘Review on Ensuring Mental Health Services at Community Level’ was held at the meeting room of National Mental Health Institute and Hospital in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. Minister of Health and Family Welfare Zahid Malek, MP was the chief guest and Secretary of the Department of Health Services. Mu. Anwar Hossain Hawladar was present as special guest.
Director General of the Department of Health Professor Dr. In this meeting held under the chairmanship of Abul Basar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Saima Wazed, Chairperson of Souchna Foundation and Advisor on Mental Health of the United Nations Secretary General, was connected online from the United States as the main discussant.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Malek MP, who was present as the chief guest at the event, said that it is important to increase the scope of mental health services and to develop manpower to make it sustainable in the long term, as well as to provide adequate budget. Pointing out that the present government is working on mental health, the minister said that currently 18 percent of adults in the country are suffering from mental illness in some way. In case of children, this rate is 12 percent. Miss Saima Wazed, daughter of Hon’ble Prime Minister working on mental health has given several initiatives and proposals. These will benefit the people of the country. We are giving utmost importance to Ms. Saima Wazed’s suggestions for improving mental health. Psychiatry will also be applied to community health care. Pabna Mental Health Institute will be made a state-of-the-art training center along with treatment. Bangladesh has become a role model for the world in Corona. In terms of mental health, Bangladesh can be a role model in Asia and even in the world.
Participating in the main discussion at the event, Saima Wazed said that there is a shortage of psychiatrists in Bangladesh. However, Bangladesh has a lot of work to do in the field of mental health, including the formulation of laws, policies and strategies. It is now necessary to bring mental health services to the doorsteps of the people at the grass root level. In addition to mental health services, it is also important to create awareness among people about mental health. He discussed in detail about future actions and strategies in the light of the National Mental Health Strategy.
The secretary of the health care department said that as a short-term and immediate step, under the 5th sector program prepared in the light of the 8th five-year plan of the government, it can be included in the development budget through a separate operational plan and as a next step, a separate branch can be created within the health department. Director General of the Department of Health Professor Dr. Abul Basar Mohammad Khurshid Alam promised to provide all support from his department to establish a comprehensive mental health care system from the grass root level to the tertiary level. The cooperation of society, media workers and educational and research institutions is absolutely necessary.
Also present at the event was the organizer of the program NCDC Program Line Director Professor Dr. Dr. Robed Amin, Director of National Mental Health Institute and Hospital. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, Chairman of NDC Protection Trust Professor Dr. Golam Rabbani, Additional Secretary of Health Services Department and other officials. Dr. at the event. Helal Uddin Ahmed, Associate Professor, National Mental Health Institute and Hospital gave a presentation on the current situation of mental health services in Bangladesh.
