WHO launches 5-yr cooperation strategy

The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched its Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2008-2013 yesterday to facilitate collaboration between WHO and Bangladesh.
Launching the CCS at a city hotel, WHO Regional Director for South East Asia Dr Samlee Plianbangchang assured the government of continued WHO support for health improvement initiatives in the country.
Health Adviser Maj Gen (retd.) ASM Matiur Rahman and LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal were present at the launching ceremony.
Dr Samlee Plianbangchang said the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) is a medium-term framework for WHO cooperation in and with the country, and it would help strengthen the capacity of the health system.
Highlighting the achievements in the health sector, Health Adviser Matiur Rahman said the government is fully committed to do and invest everything for education and health in the country.
LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal thanked WHO for the excellent support provided to the Department of Public Health Engineering to address the challenges related to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.
AHM Rezaul Kabir, secretary of the Ministry of Environment & Forests, M Aminul Islam Bhuiyan, secretary, ERD, Ministry of Finance, and Dr Duangvadee Sungkhobol, WHO representative in Bangladesh, also spoke at the programme chaired by AKM Zafarullah Khan, secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
To address the priority health and development challenges in Bangladesh, seven strategic directions is identified in the CCS, including promoting access of vulnerable groups to health services, ensuring continuum of care throughout the life course, enhancing capacity for the prevention and control of major communicable diseases and strengthening integrated disease surveillance.
It also aims to promote healthy lifestyles and cost-effective interventions for the prevention and control of major non-communicable diseases and injuries and for mental health promotion.
At the same time, the strategies aims to enhance equitable and sustainable access to safe water and sanitation, reduce environmental and occupational health risks and promote food safety.