DNA labs to come to every divisional city
Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md Zahid Hossain on Wednesday said the government has a fundamental responsibility to provide services to every sick person and is working towards an inclusive and humane Bangladesh.
“The government is working to build an inclusive and humane Bangladesh where the health and quality of life of every citizen will get the highest priority,” he said.
The minister was speaking as the chief guest at a programme at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital to mark World Cystic Fibrosis Day 2026.
Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Health Affairs S M Ziauddin Hayder attended the event as the special guest.
Zahid Hossain said the journey of Bangladesh Shishu Hospital began under the leadership of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and that the institution has gradually expanded its services to become one of the largest children’s hospitals in South Asia.
He appreciated the hospital authorities and physicians for introducing modern stem cell therapy for patients suffering from serious diseases.
The minister also said DNA laboratories meeting FBI standards would be established in every divisional city in line with international standards.
He said the laboratories would facilitate rapid and accurate examination of evidence in complex cases, including murder and rape, as well as the identification of unidentified bodies at the regional level.
Speaking as the special guest, S M Ziauddin Hayder highlighted increased government budget allocations for the health sector and called for greater emphasis on research.
He expressed hope that the institute would play a stronger role in research and in developing professional skills in health and medical sciences.
Experts at the programme said around 200,000 people in 96 countries are currently affected by potentially fatal cystic fibrosis (CF), but the disease can be diagnosed in only 59 per cent of cases.
They said the situation was particularly concerning as only 27 per cent of patients have access to life-saving modern ETI treatment.
A large proportion of undiagnosed patients live in low- and middle-income countries, they said.
The experts noted that inadequate diagnostic facilities and limited access to costly treatment are placing affected people in these regions at serious risk.
Specialist physicians, researchers, officials and representatives from different levels of the medical and health sciences community associated with Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute attended the programme.
