Desk Report:
Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan has said that the issue of Nurjahan Begum, an advisor to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the interim government, going to Singapore for treatment should be viewed from a ‘humanitarian perspective’.
He made this comment in response to questions from journalists at the inauguration of three newly constructed urban maternity centers and eight urban health center buildings under the ‘Urban Primary Health Care Services Delivery Project (Phase II)’ project at the Secretariat on Tuesday.
The health advisor went to Singapore for treatment on Monday night. He is scheduled to return to the country next Wednesday.
To a question about the health advisor’s trip to Singapore, the local government advisor said today, ‘As far as I know, Nurjahan Apa is suffering from cancer. It is not that she is undergoing treatment in Singapore now. She has been coming to Singapore for treatment for a long time.
‘If you are diagnosed with cancer, you cannot change the place of treatment or the hospital to another place after becoming an advisor. This is a humanitarian issue. It should be seen from a humanitarian perspective.’
Asif Mahmud said that the interim government has taken several steps to improve the country’s medical system.
He said, ‘I think it is the responsibility of all of us – those in policy-making positions. To take the country’s medical system to a place where we can get treatment for incurable diseases in the country. The interim government has already taken many initiatives.
‘In terms of medical treatment, we were very dependent on one country. From that place, a commitment came to build a few hospitals in our country with the help of China. Once these works are done, we think Bangladesh will be self-reliant in the health sector.’
