India, Bangladesh to try for common immunization days in the region

Dhaka, Feb 14(ANI): An Indian delegation led by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday called on Bangladesh Health Minister Professor A.F.M. Ruhal Haque for bilateral discussion on health related issues in Dhaka.

Both the leaders carried out discussions in a friendly and cordial atmosphere, and recounted the recent successful visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India.

The discussions between the two Ministers touched upon the entire gamut of health and family welfare matters of mutual concern and interest.

It was felt that, considering that the two countries have similar health related issues, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) covering health related issues on which there can be mutual sharing of expertise, knowledge and information will be signed.oth the sides agreed that there is a need to ensure better cooperation for the containment of cross border transmission of communicable diseases.

It was decided that, not only India and Bangladesh, but also Pakistan and Afghanistan would try and have common immunization days to ensure that the population on both side of the border are adequately covered.

Azad offered to help Bangladesh in developing super specialty skills by tying up with centres of excellence in India.

He informed his Bangladeshi counterpart of the various steps initiated by his Ministry since the time of his taking over charge.

Azad also offered experts from Bangladesh to visit the testing centres developed by India.

The introduction of a new curriculum for rural medical practitioners in India also evoked interest.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh side was keen to learn from the expertise gained by India on curbing of influenza pandemic.

The Health Minister further invited Professor Haque to India to take the discussion forward, which he accepted. (ANI)