The Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) on Thursday called for a coordinated effort among health, urban planning and local government authorities to ensure a safe and liveable environment for children, warning that the recent measles outbreak underscores the urgent need for child-sensitive urban and regional planning.
In a press release, BIP said ensuring healthcare for children is a basic civic right, but equally important is guaranteeing them a safe environment, neighbourhood and well-planned urban and rural settings in which to grow up safely.
The professional body of the country's urban, regional and rural planners said there is no alternative to sound urban and regional planning in building child-friendly and liveable cities and rural areas.
BIP expressed deep shock and concern over the recent measles outbreak in the country and the resulting infections and deaths among children.
Alongside ensuring proper treatment and public health services to prevent such health risks and premature deaths, the organisation urged authorities to pay due attention to developing healthy, safe and liveable urban and rural environments.
According to BIP, child health protection cannot be confined to hospitals and treatment services alone. Safe water and sanitation, hygienic housing, adequate open and green spaces, safe mobility systems, traffic control, pollution-free surroundings and easy access to public healthcare are essential components of a child-friendly city and settlement, the organisation said.
Planned urbanisation and effective land-use planning can bring these facilities to people's doorsteps, it added.
BIP noted that children in densely populated and unplanned urban areas face comparatively higher health risks, which is why urban and regional planning must prioritise child health, safety and welfare through a "Child-Sensitive Planning" framework.
It also demanded quality and accessible healthcare for children in cities as well as remote villages.
BIP said ensuring a safe urban and rural environment for children requires joint efforts by local government institutions, health and family welfare authorities, urban and regional planners, engineers, environmentalists and other relevant stakeholders.
It also stressed the need for effective measures to ensure quality child healthcare in remote and underprivileged areas of the country.
The organisation described the recent measles outbreak as an important warning that calls for deeper attention to children's health and safety, urging relevant authorities to jointly consider three key areas: quality treatment, preventive healthcare, and safe, planned residential environments to secure children's right to grow up healthy.
Ensuring children's wellbeing is not the responsibility of the health sector alone but a matter of integrated urban, regional and public health planning, BIP said, adding that guaranteeing a safe, healthy and liveable environment for today's children is key to building a healthy, humane and sustainable Bangladesh in the future.