'Health inequities a major challenge to cut poverty'

They said health inequities have emerged as a major challenge and health conditions as well as healthcare consumption gap between the rich and the poor, men and women, urban and rural residents and people living in different regions of the country have become a major cause of concern, particularly in the light of the national commitment to eradicate poverty and strengthen democracy.

The press briefing was organised by James P Grant School of Public Health at Brac University at the National Press Club to announce that the publication ceremony of 'The State of Health in Bangladesh: Report 2006' will be held tomorrow.

Nobel laureate Dr Amartya Sen will unveil the report at Brac auditorium.

Health Watch, a network of the organisations working with health issues, prepared the report with the theme 'Challenges for Achieving Equity in Health.'

While presenting the summary of the report compiled from research findings of different organisations, the speakers said despite the establishment of a nationwide infrastructure to deliver healthcare, the quality of services still remains poor.

They said though some progress has been achieved in health sector, it is uneven and its quality is threatened by rising prevalence of childhood disabilities, especially in economically disadvantaged populations.

"The poor dominate the consumption of public healthcare at primary level. At the same time the rich dominate the consumption of private healthcare and public healthcare at tertiary level," said Dr Rounaq Jahan.

"Only 11 percent of poor children receive professional medical treatment for Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) while the non-poor children receive 45 percent. Similarly only three percent of poor women could use skilled birth attendant during delivery while among the non-poor women it is 40 percent," she said

Dr Rounaq said it is also found that women bear the burden of fertility reduction, especially the poor and less educated women.

She said in government's equity-oriented policies and programmes, there is a gap between policy intention and implementation that limits the results especially for the poor and disadvantaged group.

The speakers said the Health Watch would work with the policy makers and donors to ensure equity in health service at every level.

Meanwhile, it would involve the civil society for advocacy mechanism, they added.

Dr AZ Faisel of Engender Health, Abbas Bhuiyan of ICDDRB, AMR Chowdhury of Brac, AM Zakir Hussain of ADB, Ubaidur Rob of Population Council and Sabina Faiz Rashid of Brac University were present at the press briefing.