DHAKA, May 22, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh has presented a special and groundbreaking healthcare model for persons with disabilities named 'Shishu Shorga' (Child Heaven) to the world. State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. M A Muhit described this model at the World Health Assembly as the result of 20 years of research, saying that it has made it possible to reduce the average age of detecting disability in children from 5 years down to just 8 months. Consequently, necessary care for the child can be provided from a very early age, which is helping to rapidly improve their quality of life. The 'Shishu Shorga' model was presented at a high-level side event of the 79th World Health Assembly, held on Thursday at the Hotel Royale in Geneva of Switzerland. Over 40 representatives from more than 30 countries and 20 international organizations participate in this important meeting. On this occasion, the 'Shishu Shorga' model received widespread praise from panel discussants and all present. Strongly presenting the model's core objectives and philosophy to the international community, Dr. M A Muhit called upon the global community to look at disability from a social perspective, moving beyond conventional medical approaches. In his speech, he noted that disability is not merely a physical or medical issue; it is primarily created by social and environmental barriers. Giving an example, the State Minister said that if a child cannot see or hear, and society fails to provide them with glasses or hearing aids, then they become disabled. “With timely and appropriate support and the right environment, overcoming thiscrisis is entirely possible,” he added. The State Minister informed the meeting that to address this international challenge, Bangladesh has developed the 'Shishu Shorga' model as the outcome of 20 years of research, which stands upon over a hundred scientific research papers. In this reality, where 75% of families in Bangladesh with children with disabilities live below the poverty line, the State Minister informed the global health forum that the Bangladesh government, considering healthcare a fundamental right, has undertaken initiatives to disseminate the 'Shishu Shorga' model nationwide. Dr. M A Muhit further said that a robust six-tier administrative structure has been created to ensure the success of this programme. A high-level steering committee, led by Prime Minister Tareique Rahman, is directly overseeing this initiative, he said, adding that this will ensure strong coordination among all ministries, from the highest levels of government down to the local administration. Following the State Minister's keynote speech, international experts participated in a panel discussion. Speakers at the meeting included Dr. Hubert Vuagnat from Geneva University Hospital; Dr. Sarah Collinson from Sight Savers International; Malik Muhammad Safi, Advisor to Pakistan's Ministry of Health; and Dennis Schroeder from Save the Children International. The concluding remarks were delivered by the Secretary of the Ministry of Health Kamruzzaman Chowdhury. Also present as important members of the Bangladesh delegation were the Prime Minister's Special Assistant for Health Affairs, Dr. S. M. Ziauddin Haider, and the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Professor Probhat Chandra Biswas.