The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has received the Global Health and Children’s Award for her outstaying contribution to develop Bangladesh’s health sector
by using the Information Communication Technology.
The award was given at a colourful function held at the Astoria Waldorf Hotel in presence of heads of state and government of different countries and celebrities.
The South-South Awards night held with a slogan ‘Digital Health for Digital Development’ was jointly arranged by UN Economic Commission for Africa, International Telecommunication Union, South-South News, Permanent Missions of Antigua and Barbuda, Malawi, Dominica, Zambia, Tajikistan, El Salvador and Honduras to the United Nations.
First Lady of El Salvador Vanda Pignato, president of Ruanda Paul Kagame, president of Senegal Abdullaye Wade, president of Kenya Mwai Kibaki, president of Tanzana Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, president of the Dominican Republic, president of Botswana Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama and president of Brazil Dilma Vina Rousseff also received awards in various categories for their contributions to improving the living standards of their peoples.
Receiving the award from ITU’s secretary general Hamadun I Toure, the prime minister dedicated the award to the people of Bangladesh.
‘This is indeed the recognition of all the hard work that my government has put in improving ICT conditions during the last two and a half years of its tenure,’ Hasina said.
She said with the help of information communication technology, all the sectors including health, education and communication are being digitalised gradually.
Hasina said the present government had established over 11,000 community health clinics in rural areas and almost all these clinics had been brought under the digital reach.
Digitalising of health services has enabled free treatment of malaria and tuberculosis patients, as well as AIDS screening up to district level.
It has also reduced maternal and infant mortality rates, she said.
The prime minister mentioned that Bangladesh received MDG-4 Award for its success in reducing child mortality.
The organisers in its souvenir said Sheikh Hasina had played a critical role in the development of a digital Bangladesh.
‘Under her leadership, the economy of Bangladesh is growing despite external shocks and social development is accelerating,’ the souvenir said.
It further said Hasina had supported policies which reduce poverty, create gender equality, empower women and improve education.
‘She has also been an active proponent of the use of digital technology to improve the health care system in her country, overseeing the use of mobile phones in hospital to share information, and the implementation of a free programme that delivers advice to pregnant women via SMS.’
It said: ‘All parts of a plan to propel Bangladesh to middle income status by 2021.’
-With UNB/New Age input
