World-Class Burn Institute To Be Set Up: PM

"We want to set up an international standard burn institute.....we're searching for a suitable place for (establishing) the institute, where there would be arrangement for education, training and research," she told an international conference on plastic surgery.

Sheikh Hasina added that she has already asked Honourary Adviser of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery Dr Samanta Lal Sen to come up with a detailed modern plan for setting up the international standard institute soon.

The Society of Plastic Surgeons of Bangladesh (SPSB) has arranged the four-day conference at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.

Health Minister Mohammad Nasim and State Minister for Health Zahid Maleque were present at the function as the special guests.

SPSB President Dr Samanta Lal Sen, Secretary of the Ministry of Health Syed Monjurul Islam, SPSB Secretary General Dr Md Abul Kalam and Chairman of the Conference Organizing Committee Prof Brig Gen (retd) Anjan Kumar Deb also spoke on the occasion.

Citing scarcity of doctors in the country to deal with the growing number of burn patients, the Prime Minister put emphasis on making popular this specialized sector of burn treatment.

She said her government is determined to reach healthcare facilities to the doorstep of the common people and took initiatives to introduce burn units at all government medical college hospitals, divisional hospitals and district hospitals.

"The facilities will be expanded up to upazila level in phases to ensure healthcare services for the burn patients," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the journey of plastic surgery was started in the country soon after the independence with the initiative of the Father of the Nation as he brought US Orthopedic Surgeon Dr R J Gurst and Indian Plastic Surgeon Dr P Bazelil to provide medical treatments to the war- wounded freedom fighters.

"But after the assassination of Bangabandhu with most of his family members the successive governments did nothing visible for the improvement of this branch of treatment although the number of burn patients increased manifold due to countrywide fire incidents," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government during its first tenure in 1997 established 50-bed country's first burn unit at Dhaka Medical College Hospital which has been increased to 100-bed during its 2009-2014 term.

Highly praising the tireless efforts of the physicians at the burn units to save the life of those who sustained burn injuries due to petrol bomb attacks recently, the Prime Minister expressed deep gratitude to the doctors on behalf of the nation.

Photo: Yeasin Kabir Joy