Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni reaffirmed the present government's unequivocal commitment to place woman and child health at the centre of its development agenda and sought UNFPA's continued support to achieve that end.
She made the remarks while receiving the Executive Director of UNFPA Dr Babatunde Osotimehin at her office yesterday.
"Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in realising the health related MDGs including reduction in infant and child mortality rates and maternal mortality rates by less than two thirds than that in 1990s," said the chief of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
Dr Osotimehin praised Bangladesh for its special development focus on population control, gender issues and reproductive and material health.
Appreciating Bangladesh's prominent diplomatic role in the UN, the UNFPA chief requested the foreign minister to advocate for greater resources for the UNFPA for expanding its programme in Bangladesh especially in areas such as prevention of early marriage, health-related training and greater attention to youth health.
He also praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's personal commitment to the "Every Woman Every Child" global strategy launched by the UN secretary general at the MDG+10 summit last year.
Dipu Moni also assured the UNFPA chief that Bangladesh as a member of the UNFPA executive board would continue to call for greater allocation of funds and programmes of the UN development group in Bangladesh which has a significant women and child population on the path of equal opportunity and empowerment.
Source : The Daily Star
