Bashir urges wealthy to support child healthcare

City Desk :

Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin on Saturday urged the wealthy individuals and philanthropists to come forward and contribute to enhancing child healthcare services in the country.

He made the call while inaugurating the newly rebuilt and modernized Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute in the capital, said a Commerce Ministry press release, reports BSS.

Speaking as the chief guest, Bashir said mechanical capacity alone is not enough to ensure quality healthcare. “Alongside advanced machinery, we must strengthen practical expertise and humane competence to build a service-oriented healthcare culture,” he said.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting child health, the adviser called upon physicians, nurses and hospital officials to ensure optimum service delivery by making proper use of modern technologies.

Presiding over the ceremony, Professor Dr A K M Azizul Haque, chairman of the Governing Board of the Shishu Hospital and Institute, said the reinstatement of the cardiac ICU marks a major step forward in expanding treatment facilities for children suffering from cardiac ailments.

Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute Director Prof Dr Md Abu Zafar, Prof Dr Mahbubul Haque and Prof Dr Mohammad Monir Hossain also addressed the programme as special guests. Speakers at the event said the reopening of the modern cardiac ICU would help establish world-class treatment for children with critical heart diseases and serve as a milestone in the country’s child healthcare system.

They noted that the reconstructed unit is now equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities to ensure life-saving care for severely ill cardiac patients.

The cardiac ICU had been closed since a devastating fire on April 19, 2024, which caused extensive damage to the unit. With the support of Akij Bashir Group, the unit has now been fully rebuilt and reopened for service.