‘Integrated healthcare services must be strengthened further’
NN Online:
At a workshop focused on reviewing the progress of the “Urban Public Health System Strengthening Program (2020-2024),” Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, a former adviser to the Caretaker Government and Chairman of Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC), emphasized the growing demand for integrated healthcare services due to rapid urbanization.
Dr Rahman highlighted that effective healthcare is not limited to curing diseases but must also focus on disease prevention measures.
He praised the initiatives led by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Safety net Bangladesh for their contributions to urban disease prevention.
The workshop, held at the DPHIE Auditorium in Kakrail, Dhaka, was organized by Safety net Bangladesh in collaboration with the CDC, Save the Children, and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives.
Dr Rahman acknowledged the recruitment of public health epidemiologists in 12 city corporations across Bangladesh as a significant advancement in public health capacities, and he called for the continuation of these efforts nationwide.
He also emphasized the importance of support from development partners in addition to the government’s involvement to ensure the success of health initiatives across the country.
The event, chaired by Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Dr Syed Hasan Abdullah, Country Director of Safetynet Bangladesh, was attended by high-profile guests, including Abu Hena Morshed Zaman, secretary of the Local Government Division, and Dr Neely, country director of the US CDC Bangladesh office.
Other attendees included administrators from Dhaka North and South City Corporations, senior officials from the Ministry of Local Government, and public health professionals from various sectors.
Since its launch in 2020, the Safety net program has implemented several initiatives aimed at improving public health in urban areas.
Key campaigns have focused on combating non-communicable diseases like hypertension and obesity, as well as communicable diseases such as dengue and Hepatitis B.
The introduction of the “Applied Epidemiology and Public Health Management Fellowship” has been instrumental in training city health officials, enhancing their ability to manage public health crises effectively.
An infectious disease surveillance system has also been established in six major city corporations, allowing for better disease detection and prevention, which has greatly strengthened public health management across Bangladesh’s urban centers.
As the program moves forward, the workshop participants discussed future strategies to ensure the sustainability of these advancements.
The event marked an important reflection on the successes of the past four years while charting a path toward continued progress in improving urban healthcare systems in Bangladesh.