The ‘Shishu Swarga’ model, recently introduced in Bangladesh to provide targeted healthcare and rehabilitation services for children with special needs, has been presented at a global forum.
State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr MA Muhit formally presented the model at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
The six-day conference concludes on 23 May, with him leading a high-level six-member Bangladesh delegation at the event.
The model was presented during a high-level side event at Hotel Royal Geneva, where it received appreciation from international experts and delegates, according to officials of the health ministry.
In his keynote address, Dr Muhit called for a shift in global thinking on disability, from a purely medical perspective to a social one. He argued that disability should be understood not only as a physical or medical condition but also as a consequence of social and environmental barriers.
He noted that a child with visual or hearing impairment may not face disability if provided timely support such as glasses or hearing aids, emphasising the importance of early intervention and inclusive systems.
The minister said the ‘Shishu Swarga’ model is the result of two decades of research in Bangladesh, supported by more than 100 scientific studies.
He highlighted a key achievement of the model, stating that it has reduced the average age of detecting childhood disabilities from five years to eight months, enabling earlier intervention and improved care outcomes.
He also informed the forum that around 75% of families with children with disabilities in Bangladesh live below the poverty line.
The minister said, “Bangladesh has taken steps to scale up the model nationwide through a six-tier administrative framework. A high-level steering committee, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is overseeing the initiative.”
The presentation was followed by a panel discussion featuring international experts, including Dr Hubert Vuagnat of Geneva University Hospitals, Dr Sarah Collinson of Sightsavers International, Malik Muhammad Safi, Adviser to Pakistan’s Ministry of Health, and Denise Schroeder of Save the Children International.
They praised the model and underscored the importance of international cooperation in ensuring rights-based healthcare. The session was attended by more than 40 delegates from over 30 countries and 20 international organisations.
The event concluded with remarks and a vote of thanks by Bangladesh Health Secretary Kamruzzaman Chowdhury. The Bangladesh delegation also included Dr SM Ziauddin Hyder, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health, and Prof Prabharanjan Chandra Biswas, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
