The 2nd International Symposium on ‘Community Health Workers 2019’ concludes today, CHW strategy for Bangladesh unveiled

Dhaka, November 24, 2019: The 2nd International Symposium on ‘Community Health Workers 2019’ concluded today at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The symposium was organised by icddr,b in collaboration with the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of Bangladesh; BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH) and Save the Children, Bangladesh.

This year’s theme was ‘Potentials of Community Health Workers in Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the Context of Universal Health Coverage (UHC)’. The Dhaka symposium represents a renewed, re-energised vision and engagement of the community health workers to act and deliver interventions that would address emerging challenges of non-communicable diseases.

Over the last 100 years, CHWs have been successfully working on key areas such as birth and death registration, vaccination, providing basic healthcare, education, and counselling services. Their efforts have helped governments of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to significantly tackle communicable disease-related mortality. This year’s gathering involved community health workers, public health experts, academicians, representatives from development agencies, government and non-government organisations   from 35 countries explored how best CHWs can be utilised in detection, screening and treatment of NCDs, as well as palliative care. 

In the closing session, “Bangladesh National Strategy for Community Health Workers (2019-2030)” was unveiled, which was developed under the leadership MOHFW, with support from Save the Children Bangladesh, USAID, UNICEF and WHO.

On the occasion, Professor Dr Nasima Sultana, Additional Director General (Admin), DGHS, MoHFW, Bangladesh summarised 141 posters and oral presentations presented at the symposium. These provided strategic guidance for LMICs to incorporate NCDs interventions within CHW service delivery.

Mr. Zahid Maleque, MP, the Honourable Minister, MoHFW was the Chief Guest and he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the foreign participants for their time and effort in coming to Bangladesh to make the event a success. He said, “I hope you all made the most of this opportunity and enjoyed the panels, presentations, posters and took the time to talk to each other and build your networks.” He also thanked icddr,b and partners for bringing together the local and international public health community to meet, discuss and share innovative ideas and building long standing partnerships.

The closing session was Chaired by Mr. Md. Ashadul Islam, Secretary, Health Services Division, MoHFW, Bangladesh while Professor Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Director General, DGHS, MoHFW, Bangladesh and Mr. Kazi A K M Mohiul Islam, Director General, Directorate General of Family Planning, MoHFW, Bangladesh were special guests.

Mr. Mark Pierce, Country Director, Save the Children, Bangladesh; Mr. Xerses Sidhwa, Office Director, USAID Bangladesh; Mr. Tomoo Hozumi, Country Representative, UNICEF Bangladesh; Dr Asa Torkelsson, Country Representative, UNFPA Bangladesh; Dr Bardan Jung Rana, Country Representative, WHO Bangladesh and Anowara Begum, Health Worker, Boubazzar, Korail, Dhaka also spoke on the occasion.

500 participants have participated, 20 young participants from LMICs are awarded scholarship based on the merit of their abstract. The Dhaka Symposium provided the divers group of participants a common platform to discuss the successes and challenges of the CHWs, and to find better strategic pathways to help communities adequately address the challenges posed by NCDs. This will eventually help achieve UHC and Sustainable Development Goal 3 targets.

The symposium is also supported by the USAID, European Union, UKaid, MSH, Vital Strategies, BRAC, UNICEF, UNFPA, and WHO.

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