Join hands to combat epidemics
The International Conference on Public Health and Diplomacy ended yesterday with a call for strong cooperation among countries.
Organised jointly by the foreign affairs and health ministries, and World Health Organization, Bangladesh, the two-day event was inaugurated by the prime minister in a city hotel on Tuesday.
The conference explored the scope of collaborative research and development initiatives to combat epidemics, including dengue, malaria, and other communicable diseases.
Discussions on health diplomacy were difficult earlier as most people were unaware of its seriousness. However, following Covid-19, this topic has become very important," said Ambassador Masud Bin Momen, senior secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while delivering the concluding remarks.
Combating public health threats like tuberculosis, malaria, antimicrobial resistance, and noncommunicable diseases is challenging without effective cooperation among governments, UN agencies, and other relevant stakeholders, he added.
The foreign secretary also highlighted the country's efforts to address climate and environmental impacts on physical and mental health and autism.
He also assured that Bangladesh is ready to share its experience regarding community clinics, a grass-roots government initiative to ensure healthcare across the country, for other countries to opt for similar solutions.
"The initiative is an exemplary innovative model of public-private partnership in achieving universal healthcare,' he added.
Anwar Hossain Hawlader, secretary of the Health Services Division at the health ministry, said, "Diseases have no boundaries, so corporations should not have them either. South-east Asian countries face similar challenges when it comes to ensuring public health. They should collaboratively fight the challenges."
Experts from India, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, and WHO representatives participated in three panel discussions on the second day of the event.
During the first discussion on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Prof MA Faiz, former director general of the health directorate and the key-note speaker of the session, highlighted the challenges of AMR in Bangladesh and beyond.
The discussants also pointed out the absence of testing facilities to determine the right antibiotics for the patients before issuing prescriptions.
Rinku Sharma, joint director at the National Vector Borne Disease Control Program, spoke of having similar challenges in India.
AMR is causing one death in every 40 seconds globally, there is no data on it in Bangladesh, asserted the speakers. They also stressed the importance of ensuring judicious use of antibiotics.
The participants also urged the stakeholders to invest in medicinal research to prevent the misuse of antibiotics and develop better vaccines to fight future pandemics.
The second session highlighted the necessity of early detection and management of hypertension and diabetes.
Faiyaz Murshid Kazi, director general of Multilateral Economic Affairs Wing at the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh highlighted different UN resolutions on global health at the final session of the day, titled "Looking at Public Health through the Lens of Diplomacy: The Way Forward".
Dr Bardan Jung Rana, WHO representative to Bangladesh, and Prof Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, director general of the DGHS, attended the event, among others.
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