Empowering Urban Health: Insights from the 4th Biweekly Virtual Seminar on Urban Health and Environmental Sustainability
The Fourth Bi-weekly Knowledge Sharing Virtual Seminar Session on Urban Health and Environmental Health, hosted by the Bangladesh Urban Health Network (BUHN) on March 16, 2024, served as a pivotal platform for addressing pressing concerns regarding urban healthcare and environmental sustainability in Bangladesh, honoring Prof. Dr. Md. Shamiul Islam, Director at NIPSOM, MoHFW, as the Chief Guest, Gawher Nayeem Wahra, Writer and Researcher and A.F.M Alauddin Khan, Project Director, UPHCSDP-II, as the panelist. Dr. Ziaul Ahsan, Project Director at Ipas Bangladesh, and Zakera Hannan Rubayat, Project Manager at PSTC, UPHCSDP-II, gave presentation on "Urban Health and Environmental Health" and "Urban Primary Health Care Services Delivery Project-2nd Phase." respectively. Mostaque Ahmed, Director of Eminence Associates for Social Development, commenced the seminar with a warm welcome speech, underscoring the urgent need to address environmental health challenges and vulnerabilities prevalent in the Bangladeshi context.
This set the stage for presentations on "Urban Health and Environmental Health". Dr. Ziaul Ahsan, Project Director at Ipas Bangladesh, shed light on various environmental health concerns in urban regions, emphasizing the imperative for sustained coordination mechanisms between relevant ministries and leveraging social media for advocacy in his presentation. Following this, Zakera Hannan Rubayat, Project Manager at PSTC, UPHCSDP-II, elucidated on the Urban Primary Healthcare Service Delivery Project, emphasizing its aims to bolster health and social support for marginalized communities through innovative delivery models and community engagement strategies.
A panel discussion ensued, featuring insights from Gawher Nayeem Wahra, Writer and Researcher who deliberating on the necessity of decentralizing urban healthcare and bolstering primary healthcare services with the involvement of local governments.
Subsequently, an open discussion and Q&A session provided a platform for further exploration of key issues, with A.F.M Alauddin Khan, Project Director, UPHCSDP-II, who shed light on the multifaceted challenges posed by rapid urbanization, including air pollution and inadequate green spaces, underscoring the need for holistic strategies to safeguard public health in urban areas. Dr. Sharmin Mizan, Deputy Project Director, UPHCSDP-II highlighting the importance of reinforcing government outdoor dispensaries and implementing robust medical waste management solutions to mitigate infection risks.
A highlight of the seminar was the speech delivered by Prof. Dr. Md. Shamiul Islam, Director at NIPSOM, MoHFW, who articulated concerns regarding the current lack of coordination in addressing urban healthcare challenges, proposed a comprehensive strategy encompassing specialized urban healthcare setups, dedicated outpatient services, and integration of urban health priorities into the Essential Service Package, underscored the urgency of addressing diverse urban health issues, ranging from school health to environmental hazards, with a view towards fostering sustainable urban development.
The seminar concluded with closing remarks and future steps outlined by Dr. Md. Shamim Hayder Talukder, CEO of Eminence and Member Secretary of BUHN, expressing gratitude to all participants and emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing urban health and environmental challenges.
