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Seoul, 11 February 2021:

To raise awareness about the physical and mental wellbeing of the expatriate Bangladeshis and EPS workers residing in South Korea, Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul organized a webinar titled ‘health talks’ on 11^th February 2021 at 07:00 pm (local time) actively participated by the EPS workers. This was the first webinar initiated by the Embassy to promote awareness among the EPS workers regarding health issues.

Hon’ble Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Dr. Ahmed MunirusSaleheen, Ambassador of Bangladesh to South Korea Ms. Abida Islam, Associate Professor of National Institute of Mental Health Dr. Helal Uddin Ahmed and Clinical Psychologist Ms. FarzanaSharmin participated in the webinar.

Dr. Ahmed MunirushSalehin in his opening remarks expressed his deep condolences at the untimely demise of the EPS workers based in South Korea. He thanked the Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul for organizing such a webinar to raise physical and mental health awareness among the EPS workers. He underlined that though the arrangement of the webinar was modest, it has greater importance. He further stressed that the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment is committed to the welfare of the expatriates despite its limited resources and shortage of manpower. He advised the expatriate workers to approach the Ministry whenever they face any kind of difficulties.

Dr. Helal Uddin Ahmed then provided a comprehensive presentation focusing on the causes of mental stress and also indicating ways to maintain a balanced lifestyle. He emphasized healthy living, adequate physical activity, exercise, sufficient sleep, balanced and healthy eating habits, and pure recreation. He also advised avoiding harmful behaviors to safeguard their personal wellbeing.

It was followed by a discussion of Ms. FarzanaSharmin, a psycho-analyst. She opined that physical and mental well-being are closely interlinked. For the stability of mind, she emphasized on care-free lifestyle and pure entertainment.

In the open-discussion session, the expatriate workers requested to introduce medical services through telemedicine consultations. They also requested to launch a hotline to provide them advice on mental health-related issues.

In her concluding remarks, Ambassador Abida Islam expressed concern over the untimely departure of Bangladeshi EPS workers and said that in January 2021, three (03) Bangladeshi workers passed away at sudden heart attacks in the short span of only 12 days. While emphasizing the overall well-being of remittance fighters, she said that health is the root of all happiness and if one could keep oneself healthy then only he or she could contribute to his/her family, society, and to the country. He, therefore, urged the EPS workers to take care of their own wellbeing even in the midst of busy work schedules and insisted on maintaining a balanced diet with ample rest for this purpose.

She hoped that this webinar may provide the EPS workers a new direction to release and overcome their stresses faced in their daily lives.