Despite the challenges posed by the covid pandemic, Ukraine war and global crisis, Bangladesh remains committed to implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG-3, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Thursday.
She made the remarks when she met with Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and co-chair of the Chatham House Commission, at Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka on Thursday, UNB reports.
Prime minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the reporters after the meeting.
Hasina said her government has been pursuing the national health Strategic Plan 2011-2030 to achieve the target.
The PM informed Clark about her government’s initiatives to further develop the pharmaceuticals industries during the meeting.
She highlighted Bangladesh’s achievements in the pharmacutcals sector, saying it is now exporting pharmaceutical products to 100 countries. PM Hasina said the government has focused on research on producing Covid and other vaccines in the country, and a vaccine manufacturing plant is being established at Gopalganj with the technical support of the US.
Clark responded that Bangladesh can be an exporter of special medicines like Covid vaccines. Hasina also mentioned her upcoming partciapation at the UNGA in Sepetember next, and said she is looking forward to attending the high level meeting on Universal Health Coverage and other public issues in New York.
During the meeting, Helen Clark said, Bangladesh under the leadership of PM Hasina can play an important role in this regard.
Adviser to the WHO Director-General on Mental Health and Autism Saima Wazed, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin, Health Secretary Dr Md Anwar Hossain Howlader, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, and Executive Director of the Centre for Universal Health Robert Yates were among those in attendance.
