Call for establishing rural women's health rights
Rural women join a rally at Muktangan in the city yesterday with a call to ensure equal wage for equal work in agriculture. Karmojibi Nari organised the rally to mark the World Rural Women's Day. Photo: STAR
The World Rural Women's Day was observed in the country yesterday with a call for establishing their health rights and recognising their works.
The call was made at a seminar titled 'Claim your rights to health and well-being' organised by the national committee to observe the day at the National Press Club in the city.
Speakers at the seminar demanded appointment of female doctors in all community clinics as the rural women have some prejudices against the male doctors.
“Rural women will feel free if they know that their doctors are female, and they will go to health complexes for healthcare without any hesitation. So the government should appoint female doctors or service providers at community clinics,” said Shamima Akhter, a women leader, at the seminar.
Tajul Islam of Federation of NGOs, Bangladesh (FNB) said women, who live in remote areas, are underprivileged.
So the government should take necessary steps to provide healthcare to them, he added.
Prof Rashid-E-Mahbub, president of Health Rights Movement, said the draft health policy was not prepared considering the people's interest.
It is formulated for a group of traders, he added.
Committee President Swapan Guha, member Sharmin Islam Daizy, Executive Director of Coast Guard Rezaul Karim Chowdhury and General Secretary of Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh, Mostafa Kamal Akand also spoke at the seminar.
Karmojibi Nari also organised a meeting at Muktangon in the city to observe the day.
Shirin Akhter, founder president of the organisation, said as the rural women are mostly engaged in agricultural work, everyone should recognise their contribution to national development.
Hasanul Haq Inu, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on post and telecommunications ministry, said rural women are very much active in agriculture, micro-credit and cottage industries, and there is no way to overlook their contribution to national economy.
Begum Munnujan Sufian, state minister for labour and employment, and Executive Director of the organsiation Rokeya Rafique also spoke at the meeting.
The first International Day of Rural Women was observed on October 15, 2008.
The day was established by the UN General Assembly in 2007 to recognise the important role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.
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