Remarks

Dedication Ceremony

Saidabad Clinic

January 19, 2005

The U.S. Government is proud of its long history of commitment to improving family health in Bangladesh.  Among other things, the U.S. Government works to improve family health and reduce fertility in Bangladesh by supporting NGOs and clinics that provide essential health care services, including maternal and child health services, and by working to strengthen immunization programs.  Saidabad Clinic is working in these areas.  With our combined efforts, and the efforts of the Government of Bangladesh and other organizations, we have seen improvements in family health in Bangladesh, including a significant reduction in the fertility rate and an increase in child survival rates.  Bangladesh has also been polio free for four years and almost three-quarters of children 12-23 months of age are fully immunized.  We continue to work to address challenges like high maternal and infant mortality rates.  We applaud your efforts and successes at the Saidabad Clinic in working to improve family health in Bangladesh. 

The U.S. Government has a long history of supporting faith-based and other community organizations and is working to enhance our current partnerships with faith-based and community-based organizations. Because such organizations, like Friends of Bangladesh and the Saidabad Clinic, are able to address the deepest and most profound needs of human society, these partnerships are able to contribute to improving the lives of citizens in developing nations.

The Saidabad clinic was opened in 1985 to serve immigrant street sweepers and now serves 200-500 people a day from the general community, mostly women and children.  Patient care focuses on gastric, respiratory, and skin problems.  Registration, examination, and medicines cost about 30 taka.  The clinic provides free services to those who cannot afford this fee.  The clinic also runs special programs for community members on nutrition, tuberculosis, immunization, and pre-natal care.    I would like to commend the clinic on its dedication and ability to utilize scarce resources, both financial and human, to serve the community.  

In the last three years, patient numbers at the Saidabad clinic have nearly doubled.  Clinic staff have worked hard to provide quality care to increasing numbers of patients in a limited amount of space.  I am pleased to be here for the dedication of your new 1^st floor, which will enable you to expand your activities.  I would like to congratulate you on your long and on-going commitment to improving family health in Bangladesh.

      

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Note:  A Bangla translation of this article is also available from The American Center.  If you are interested in the translation, please call The American Center Press Section (Tel: 8813440-4, Fax: 9881677; e-mail: DhakaPA@state.gov; Website: dhaka.usembassy.gov).