Rohingya refugees are receiving comparatively better healthcare facilities in Bangladesh, said speakers at a programme yesterday.

Bangladesh government has launched vaccination campaign against diphtheria and taken measures to prevent diarrhoea among Rohingyas in the refugee camps. 

They said this at the programme organised by Universal Medical College and Hospital Ltd in the capital's Jatiya Press Club to reveal the findings of a survey on health issues of Rohingya people.

Universal Medical College and Research Centre (UMCRC) conducted the survey on 10,393 Rohingya people from November 25 to December 4, 2017 at Kutupalang and Balukhali refugee camps in Ukhia upazila of Cox's Bazar.

While reading the study findings, Prof Ridwanur Rahman, head of UMCRC, said before coming to Bangladesh, around 50 percent of the surveyed people had suffered from diarrhoea and 38 percent had the symptoms of tuberculosis.

Rohingyas are receiving better treatment and facilities in Bangladesh, said Prof Ridwanur, referring to the study. 

Speaking at the programme, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim said Bangladesh has shown generosity to Rohingyas.

Rohingya people even knew nothing about family planning, he said, adding that Bangladesh had made them aware of the importance of family planning.

Bangladesh is doing its part, but the pressure should be put on Myanmar government so that it takes back its own people, he added.

President of Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad Prof Dr M Iqbal Arslan said since monsoon season is coming, the Rohingya people will be at risk.

So precautious measures should be taken before any disaster occurs, he warned. 

For a permanent solution, speakers at the programme also called upon the Myanmar government to take back the Rohingya refugees as early as possible and ensure their safety once they go back to their homeland.

Priti Chakraborty, chairman of Universal Medical College and Hospital Ltd; Prof Dr Syed Modasser, president of Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC), also spoke at the programme.

FM LAUDS UNFPA FOR ITS SUPPORT

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali yesterday thanked UNFPA for partnering with the Bangladesh government in providing humanitarian assistance to the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.

Referring to the government's commitment to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, Minister Ali expressed hope that UNFPA would come forward in this regard.

He said this when the newly appointed country representative of the UNFPA in Bangladesh, Dr Asa Torkelsson, presented her credentials to the foreign minister yesterday.

The foreign minister appreciated the long-standing cooperation between Bangladesh and UNFPA in diverse fields, such as, sexual and reproductive health, capacity building of institutions, and prevention of gender based violence, among others.

The Representative of UNFPA lauded Bangladesh's achievements in the field of women empowerment, gender parity, and sexual and reproductive health.

She congratulated Minister Ali for Bangladesh's graduation from one of the least developed countries where improvement of maternal and child health played a significant role.

She also assured that UNFPA will continue to work with Bangladesh for the overall development including supporting the gender equality, women's empowerment and capacity building of institutions from local level to national level.