Collective action key to fight pandemic

Dr David Nabarro

Terming collective action the key to fight against the global pandemic like COVID-19, Dr David Nabarro, special envoy to the Directorate General of WHO on Covid-19, stressed on adequate investment in the local level public health systems for the continuation of regular health care services during the pandemic.

He made the statement yesterday while speaking as the special guest at a webinar titled "Urban Health, Multi-Stakeholder Partnership, Sustainable Development and COVID-19" jointly organised by Eminence Associates for Social Development and Bangladesh Urban Health Network (BUHN).

"We are learning every day about the strategies and perspectives of many countries around the world to control the virus. We need a worldwide campaign on Covid-19 and it should be led by the practitioners of the local level in the cities, villages, communities, groups and societies," he said at the event.

He also said that the community should be strengthened, empowered and equipped with updated information and knowledge to fight the impacts of the pandemic.

Dr Shamim Hayder Talukder, chief executive officer of Eminence, moderated the webinar and said that Eminence Associates for Social Development was trying to engage civil society for developing a risk communication plan for 2021-2041.

"We are also working on the development of a digital health care system in Bangladesh. We hope that we can drive the health system towards the needs of the mass people with some solid contributions to the people of Bangladesh and the world," he added.

The webinar was broadcasted live from the official Facebook page of Eminence Associates for Social Development.