Tourist Desk: ‘Health for all’ should not be limited to slogans, but should be implemented. Basic health services are a neglected reality in the coastal isolated char areas, which are vulnerable to climate change. Ensuring the health security of this deprived population is now a question of fundamental justice. The speakers made these remarks at a press conference organized at the Tafazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club on Wednesday (April 15). The press conference titled Basic Health Care: A Neglected Reality of the Char Region was organized by Coast Foundation, EquityBD, and BDCSO Process.At the press conference, the foundation’s executive director M. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said that about 10 million people live in the char areas, who are currently in a double crisis due to climate change and lack of healthcare. There is no medical care due to the disconnection of communication during disasters. Due to the lack of necessary infrastructure, skilled manpower and medical equipment, the people of the char areas are being deprived of even basic healthcare. Medical care is not a luxury, but rather a fundamental right.He said, “I am calling for the expansion of telemedicine services by launching 4G networks in the char areas. So that people can easily get advice from MBBS doctors. In addition, where maternal and child health is at the highest risk, safe maternal care centers must be established and modern and quality training of midwives must be ensured. So that they can deal with complex situations efficiently.”Mostafa Kamal Akand, coordinator of the BDCSO process, said, “It is not possible to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals without ensuring health services for this large population living in the char areas. Priority should be given to implementing the allocation for primary healthcare by increasing it to at least 40 percent in the upcoming national budget. In addition, effective measures should be taken to reach healthcare to the most remote and isolated communities by strengthening the required number of community clinics, union health centers and mobile medical teams in the char areas, and this is an urgent responsibility of the state.” Syed Asharf Hossain, Assistant Director of the Society for Development Initiative, said, “Locals have to travel long, risky routes to the upazila or district headquarters hospital to get primary medical care, which is time-consuming, costly and troublesome. As the entire communication system is cut off during disasters, the residents here are completely deprived of medical care, resulting in common diseases becoming serious. Maternal and child health in particular is at the highest risk. Due to the lack of prenatal and postnatal care, maternal and neonatal mortality rates are alarmingly high.” It is essential to take initiatives for water ambulances and special transportation systems to quickly take patients or pregnant mothers to the hospital in times of emergency. COAST Foundation’s Head of Climate Change M. A. Hasan also spoke at the press conference.