22 districts to get ‘Shishu Swarga’ facilities for children with cerebral palsy: State Min Muhit

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr MA Muhit today said ‘Shishu Swarga’ facilities are being established in 22 districts to provide treatment and rehabilitation services to children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities.

“The facilities are being established to ensure integrated treatment and rehabilitation for around 350,000 children suffering from cerebral palsy in the country,” he said while addressing a programme at the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital in Agargaon, Dhaka, marking World Cerebral Palsy Day.

Director of the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital Professor Dr Md Nuruzzaman Khan presided over the programme, while State Minister for Housing and Public Works Ahammad Sohel Monzoor attended as the special guest.

Muhit said the health sector has received the highest budget allocation under the Prime Minister’s directive and the ‘Shishu Swarga’ facilities are being established as part of the government’s efforts to expand treatment and rehabilitation services for children with cerebral palsy.

He said a pilot project was recently launched at Karail slum, where around 300 identified children are receiving services.

Developing a “community-based early case detection” system is an urgent priority to ensure children in remote areas have access to healthcare, Muhit said.

Praising doctors and health workers for providing services to large numbers of patients despite various limitations, he called for collective efforts to ensure a universal and inclusive healthcare system for children with disabilities.

Earlier, doctors, nurses and officials and employees of the hospital took part in a rally from the premises of the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital.