Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Saber Hossain Chowdhury said health dimension would be incorporated into one of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) strategies to address environment-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as dengue, chikungunya, and malaria, among others.
He also highlighted the nexus between health and climate change.
Saber said this in his speech as the chief guest at the NIHR Global Health Research Centres Symposium organised by ICDR, B on Non-Communicable Diseases and Environmental Change held at the Westin, Dhaka, on Monday, according to a press release.
"Climate change poses a severe threat, impacting our health and causing non-communicable diseases. Environmental changes, particularly water salinity, impact health, contributing to non-communicable diseases. The focus on environmental change-related NCDs, such as water salinity in coastal areas, is crucial. Bangladesh wants to be a global partner in research. Country specific action research is required. Despite accessing various funds, our needs far exceed available resources,” said the minister.
“Projects ensuring safe drinking water in saline-prone coastal zones and a comprehensive delta plan for sustainable growth are underway. Afforestation along the coast aims to protect lives during natural disasters,” he also said.
The environment minister also mentioned his ministry's 100-day programme for a healthier Bangladesh. He said effective initiatives have been taken, including combating air pollution, addressing illegal brick kilns, tackling plastic pollution, and promoting environmental education.
Matt Cannell, Acting High Commissioner, British High Commission, Dhaka; Professor Kara Hanson, Dean of Faculty, Public Health and Policy, The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Director of the Global Health Research Programme, National Institute of Health and Care Research; Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director, icddr,b; and Dr Aliya Naheed, Scientist, Nutrition Research Division, icddr,b, spoke at the event.
Cannell underscored the symposium's critical role in advancing global health.
Cannell said, “I am delighted to see targeted investment in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh and other countries by UK-funded Global Health Research. This will help tackle cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, mental disorders and other NCDs.”
The NIHR Global Health Centres Symposium was hosted by icddr,b and supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, UK (NIHR).
It has convened 60 leading experts, thought leaders, and professionals from five global health centres in West Africa, Latin America, South Asia and South East Asia.
Over the four days, the symposium promises engaging discussions, pioneering insights, and unparalleled networking opportunities, all aimed at fostering collaboration and shared learning among the NIHR Global Health Research Centres, NIHR, the UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and other stakeholders.
The focus is on combating Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)—such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, mental health disorders—and addressing the impacts of environmental changes.
The symposium showcases the concerted efforts of the NIHR Global Health Research Centres in addressing critical global health challenges.
The West African Centre is focused on improving NCD control through research and policy development in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Niger. In Latin America, the focus is on community-based management of long-term conditions, employing innovative research and community engagement strategies.
The Centre in Afghanistan and Pakistan aims to reduce premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and mental health disorders.
Meanwhile, the India-Nepal Centre manages multiple long-term conditions, and the Centre in India, Indonesia and Bangladesh aims to tackle the dual challenges of rising NCDs and environmental changes — specifically focusing on the health impacts of increased water salinity in Bangladesh, air pollution in Indonesia, and heat stress and the public food procurement system in India. Each of the Centres are jointly led by UK institutions and LMIC institutions.
Dr Aliya Naheed, Scientist, icddr,b and Country Director, NIHR Global Research Centre for Non Communicable Diseases and Environmental Change, Bangladesh highlighted the importance of strengthening primary care for non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease among people living in coastal areas.
Dr Naheed said, “The ultimate goal of the Bangladesh centre is to build high quality research team in Bangladesh who would continue findings solutions to save more lives in future.”
Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director at icddr,b, emphasized the symposium's importance, stating: "We stand at a pivotal moment in global health, where collaboration and innovation intersect to address the most pressing health challenges of our time. This symposium is a testament to our collective commitment to advancing health equity and research excellence across continents. Together, we are paving the way for innovative solutions that will shape the future of global health."
Professor Kara Hanson, NIHR Programme Director for Global Health Research, said, “NIHR’s investment in Global Health Research Centres is itself an important intervention, supporting researchers to generate new evidence on how to tackle the growing challenge of NCDs in low and middle-income countries, and how to develop sustainable capacity to undertake such research.”