4200 FWAs, FWVs to be recruited to safe motherhood programme

FE Report

State minister for health Capt (retd) Majibur Rahman Fakir Saturday said the government is set to recruit 4200 family welfare assistants (FWA) and family welfare visitors (FWV) to accelerate safe motherhood programme.

He also announced to recruit 7000 doctors and 4200 nurses under a special BCS within next one month. The minister added the sanction for recruiting FWA and FWV has already been made.

He was speaking at a national meeting on 'Sharing of Experience of Safe Motherhood Initiatives' organized by RDRS Bangladesh in cooperation with CSS, DORP, VERC and Dhaka Ahsania Mission with technical assistance from ICDDR,B, at IDB Bhaban in the city.

Majibur Rahman Fakir was speaking as the chief guest while Makhduma Nargis, project director of community clinic project was present as the special guest of the program.

Public health expert Dr Muhammad Abdus Sabur presented a paper on the theme.

The Health Monitoring and Advocacy on Safe Motherhood project is implemented by five local NGOs in five unions financed by a consortium of four Netherland based NGOs-Cordaid, Simavi, Wemos, Woord and Daad who are collectively known as BOOM partners.

The government completed recruitment of 13,500 personnel for 11,500 community clinics who have just finished their training in June this year.

The junior minister also announced to double the amount of the present demand side financing for the pregnant women of Tk 2000 at government hospitals.

"I want to inform you that we are going to recruit 7000 doctors within next one month. At present there are 23000 doctors working under the ministry," said the state minister at a meeting.

He said the country has nurse shortage for which the government will recruit 4200 nurses at the same time.

"Many think that we there are post for doctors at community health clinics. But its not possible for the government to create post for doctors there….We have recruited 5500 doctors through 26th, 27th and 28th BCS exams for upazila health complex," said Mr Majibur.

He said though the government has appointed many doctors, the problem is they are not available at their duty-stations because they sometimes go for training, higher studies while some are really negligent about their duties.

"There is a cell in our DG office to take action against the unruly doctors. We have already taken departmental actions against 100 doctors," he said.

The minister said the government is also considering to make the jobs of the community health service providers permanent instead of project-based term.

He said the government provides 28 types free medicines on an average worth Tk 20 million per year in the community clinics and sometimes a cancer patient receives medicines worth Tk 30,000 to 40,000.