World Health Organization Bangladesh

14/07/2025

👉🏾 On 8 July 2025, at 9 AM New Delhi time, over 190 experts and officials, from multiple locations across WHO South-East Asia Region, logged on to their computers for a real time simulation. For the next four hours, these focal points for International Health Regulations (IHR) and International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) Emergency Contact Points from Member countries, along with their counterparts from WHO regional and country offices responded to a potential public health event of international concern related to food safety.

This exercise ‘South-East Asia Regional Practice for All-Hazard IHR Event Communication – SAPHIRE’, conducted annually by the WHO Regional office, is part of the effort to strengthen health emergency preparedness and response capacities. It tests timely and effective communication on public health events between National IHR Focal Points and the WHO IHR contact point, which is important for compliance to IHR (2005).

The event communications include notification, information sharing, consultation, and verification.

“The SAPHIRE is a functional exercise, requiring participants to respond in real-time to incoming information about a public health event and undertake simulated emergency functions that would reflect their role in an actual situation. It is followed by an immediate debrief and subsequent detailed report with recommendations for improving IHR event communication based on the feedback and learning from the exercise. First held in 2023, this exercise has now become an annual feature, as per request from Member countries,” said Dr Nilesh Buddha, the Regional Emergency Director, at the completion of SAPHIRE – 2025.

14/07/2025

📢 The second session of "Shastha Charcha", an initiative by WHO Bangladesh, took place on 25 June 2025, focusing on global challenges and national pathways to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

🌐 Global experts Prof. Tim Evans, Vice President, Concordia University and Former ADG, WHO HQ and Dr. Piya Hanvoravongchai, Health Financing Specialist from Thailand and faculty, National University of Singapore, as WHO external expert shared key insights from global and Thailand's UHC experience, highlighting the critical role of leadership, financing, primary healthcare, and system-level reforms.

National experts including Mr. Akand (DG, DGNM), Prof. Liaqat Ali, and Dr. Subraut Paul reflected on Bangladesh’s UHC journey, emphasizing political will, resource planning, health workforce strengthening, and the need to reduce high out-of-pocket expenditures.

🤝 Introduced by Dr. Jamsheed Mohamed, WHO Representative to Bangladesh, the forum aims to break silos, foster collaboration, and explore joint actions for advancing UHC in Bangladesh.

💡 The session served as a powerful platform to exchange ideas, explore innovations, and reaffirm commitment to Health for All.

10/07/2025

𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐏𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬 𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐲𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐱’𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐫!

Since the massive influx of the Rohingya population into Bangladesh in 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh and various health sector partners, has been addressing the urgent health needs of this vulnerable group in Cox’s Bazar. Studies conducted since 2019 have highlighted a significant health concern: a high prevalence of Hepatitis C among the Rohingya, with rates ranging from 13.2% to 19.6%.
In response to this alarming prevalence, WHO, along with other partners, initiated a Hepatitis C surveillance and treatment program in March 2024. This initiative, the first and only one of its kind in WHO South East Asia Region, has been pivotal in identifying and treating Hepatitis C within the Rohingya community.

09/07/2025

Dhaka, 8 July 2025, as Bangladesh faces a worsening dengue crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stepped up support to help the country strengthen its clinical response. In a handover ceremony held today, WHO officially provided lifesaving medical equipment and supplies to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), reinforcing the government’s ability to manage severe dengue cases in high-burden areas.

To support these efforts, WHO has delivered 8 portable ultrasound machines, 21 bedside hematocrit (HCT) machines, and 1,000 bottles (500 ml each) of Dextran 40, a vital fluid for managing severe dengue. These supplies will be distributed to major hospitals in dengue high-burden areas across the country, improving diagnostic capacity and treatment outcomes.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to WHO Bangladesh for their generous support to DGHS through the provision of 8 portable ultrasound machines, 21 bedside hematocrit machines, and 1,000 bottles (500 ml each) of Dextran 40. I believe these resources will significantly contribute to the effective management of dengue,” said Professor Dr. Md Abu Jafor, Director General, DGHS. Citing examples of success in reducing dengue death rates to near zero in some countries, the WR emphasized the need to establish a Center of Excellence (CoE) for dengue case management in one or two hospitals, with the aim of replicating the model nationwide. He reaffirmed that WHO’s support for these initiatives would continue.

02/07/2025

01/07/2025

🩺 Stakeholder Consultation on Health Workforce Action Plan Towards UHC 2030 and Beyond

On 25 June 2025, a high-level stakeholder consultation was held at CIRDAP to finalize the Health Workforce Action Plan aligned with achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030. Prof. Dr. Md Sayedur Rahman, Hon’ble Special Assistant (State Minister), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, attended as the Chief Guest. Dr. Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed, WHO Representative to Bangladesh, joined as Special Guest, along with other dignitaries. In the event, Dr Tim Evans, Vice President, Concordia University and Former ADG, WHO HQ and Dr Piya Hanvoravongchai, Health Financing Specialist from Thailand and faculty, National University of Singapore, as WHO external expert led the technical discussions and shared their valuable experience with the participants.

During the event, the Chief Guest and other speakers delivered insightful remarks. Dr. Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed stated: “With only five years left to achieve the SDGs and UHC, the need for a strong, well-distributed health workforce is more critical than ever. The Ministry of Health must take concrete actions—both in the short and long term—to strengthen health workforce capacity.”

Prof. Dr. Md Sayedur Rahman noted: “Issues and challenges in health systems and the health workforce are multidimensional due to the involvement of multiple stakeholders. While we cannot solve all problems in a short period of time, we are considering reforms in health workforce management as part of broader health system strengthening.”

Dr Tim Evans, Vice President, Concordia University and Former ADG, WHO HQ stated “In any effort to accelerate UHC and PHC reforms, the health workforce - spanning community health workers, family welfare volunteers, midwives, nurses, medical assistants, laboratory technicians, doctors and more - constitute the leadership engine for informed and sustainable progress.”

📌 The event was organized by the Human Resources Branch, Health Services Division, in collaboration with WHO Bangladesh.

23/06/2025

Many individuals and institutions across the WHO South-East Asia Region are contributing to improving health, saving lives, and building stronger, more resilient health systems.
WHOSEARO has launched the Award for Public Health Champion to honour their efforts.
Listen in as Regional Director Saima Wazed calls for .
🗓️ Deadline: 31st July
Click here for more information 👉🏾 https://bit.ly/4nitYye

20/06/2025

18/06/2025

🚭 Say Goodbye to To***co, Say Hello to Life!
Quitting to***co isn’t just a choice, it’s a celebration of health, strength, and a better future. 🌿💪
Take the first step today. Your body, your family, and your future will thank you. ❤️
***co

15/06/2025

Did you know?
There’s NO safe level of exposure to to***co smoke.
It can cause cancer, stroke, heart attack, chronic lung disease, and more.
Take the pledge to quit to***co today and encourage others around you.
***co🚭

15/06/2025

Ni****ne can harm brain 🧠 development in adolescents and young adults.
Quit ***co and live a healthy life.

***co

14/06/2025

Today we honor the selfless generosity of voluntary, unpaid blood donors.
This year's theme, “Give blood, give hope: together we save lives,” reminds us that a single donation can help up to three people and fuel hope for countless others.

Let’s raise awareness, thank our heroes, and inspire both new and regular donors to step forward.
Donate blood, donate hope, save lives.