Bangladesh is rapidly urbanizing. About 38% of the population resides in urban areas. However, increased urbanization has a terrible impact on the health of people, particularly the most vulnerable communities. Cities have experienced a large increase in communicable and noncommunicable diseases due to urbanization. It is aggravated by unhealthy living conditions that reflect the poor economic circumstances of urban residents.
Bangladesh Urban Health Network (BUHN) is a civil society network formed in 2015. It regularly engages in advocacy. It also works as a pressure organization, bringing together different players in the urban health sector to collaborate on issues of health equity. It runs social media campaigns to raise awareness on urban health. Furthermore, BUHN regularly organizes conferences by partnering with other organizations. All of these activities are geared towards one goal, to address and find potential solutions to problems of the health sector in urban areas, so that people can live a safer and healthier life.
Our History
In 2009, after joining the 8th International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH 2009) held in Nairobi, Eminence Bangladesh initiated Bangladesh Urban Health Network (BUHN). Since then, it has been collaborating with other organizations and policymakers to improve health services and equity in urban areas and raise awareness. In 2015, the 12th International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH 2015) was organized by BUHN in partnership with International Society of Urban Health and New York Academy of Medicine. It was the first conference on urban health in Asia.
Our Objectives
The objects for which the Network is established are all or any of the following:
- To act as a platform for policy advocacy to enhance the status of urban heath in Bangladesh;
- To facilitate the exchange of perspectives, research methods, knowledge and data on the study of diseases in urban areas;
- To advocate for programs that reduce urban health hazards and promote well-being of people living in urban areas;
- To provide an informal and open association for review and discussion of issues of common interest with focus on urban health.
STRATEGIC PLAN
BUHN is looking forward to working with donor organizations to build a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time bound) strategic plan for the upcoming year
ANNUAL REPORT
BUHN is currently working on its annual report. It will be uploaded on the website once it is completed.