PM asks to appoint 10,000 more nurses:Daily Sun

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday directed health ministry to appoint 10,000 more nurses with an express aim to bring dynamism in medical care as they are the linchpin of the health service. She also called for setting up a nursing institute in each district and building several child hospitals in divisional headquarters, including the capital. “We are going to
appoint 7,000 physicians, but only 5,000 posts are created for nurses. This is disparity. I ask you [ministry] to take steps to appoint 10,000 nurses,” Hasina said while inaugurating a programme on World Breastfeeding Week-2014 at Osmani Memorial Auditorium. Assuring adequate financial support, she asked the ministry to pave the way for nurses to get themselves registered for honours courses. Highlighting the importance of nursing profession, the premier said, “We have established Nursing Institute and the government has a goal to set up such institute at every district.” The government will promote the post of a nurse to the second class to make the profession dignified, she mentioned. The PM said the government will create opportunities for nurses to take higher training and degrees abroad. “Nurses across the globe not only provide support to patients, but also make reports of patients for doctors who then go for the next course of treatment,” she said, adding: “We also like to take our health sector to that height.” Hasina said some 2,440 assistant civil surgeons were appointed through the last five BCS exams. Of them, 196 assistant dental surgeons were appointed and some 4,133 assistant surgeons appointed on an ad-hoc basis. Some 6,221 assistant surgeons, who qualified through 33rd BCS exams, would join on Thursday. The premier said the construction of child hospital each in Rajshahi, Barisal and Sylhet is in progress. “The government has a plan to construct some more child hospitals in Dhaka and other divisional headquarters.” Underpinning importance of breastfeeding for normal growth of a baby, she said the holy Quran tells for breastfeeding to a newborn baby up to two years. “There is no alternative to breastfeeding for normal growth of a child. Breast milk is the only balanced and safe food for a child up to six months,” she said, asking lactating moms to remain careful to this end. Hasina also stressed for the need of setting up day-care centres at offices to ensure breastfeeding and affection of mothers. The premier also unveiled the cover of a book styled ‘Mother and Child’.