GLC4HSR, in collaboration with Bangladesh Health Watch and James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, launched the Bangladesh Chapter, the second chapter of the collaborative after India. Esteemed individuals with proven leadership in health systems and philanthropy united at the launch to address health systems resilience.

The momentous occasion saw nearly 100 attendees, comprising esteemed professionals and influential figures from various parts of the globe including various Technical Advisory Group members of the Global Learning Collaborative as well as speakers from the GLC4HSR’s Annual Conclave. The event was marked by addresses from eminent figures.

Prof. Mushtaque Chowdhury, Adviser, Zames P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, in his welcome remarks, thanked ACCESS Health International for this initiative. He stressed the weak health system which the world witnessed during COVID-19 and highlighted the need for better and more resilient health systems.

Dr Krishna Reddy Nallamalla, President (Asia), ACCESS Health International set the context and elaborated the history and vision of the collaborative and stressed the significance of such collaborations that assists to absorb health shocks during pandemic and normal scenarios. He suggested making this collaborative learning culture and efforts to further strengthen the collaborative by onboarding partners from all over the world.

Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, Chairperson, BRAC University, in his keynote address, spoke about 50 years of change that Bangladesh’s Health systems have witnessed. He spoke on the emergence of women as socio-economic actors, rural-urban connectivity, food security cushion and the drivers of change: Grass-root culture of solution-centric innovation, accountability through contested politics, and policy entrepreneurship. Dr Rahman also spoke about the importance of understanding the health system as encompassing both healthcare and public health. COVID-19 experience has underscored the importance of health system resilience- prevent, prepare, respond, and learn.

Prof (Dr) Malay Kanti Mridha, Director, Centre for Non-Communicable Diseases and Nutrition, James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, gave a special address on the Health Resilience Measurement Tool extensively developed by a team of experts at ACCESS Health International. He talked about six building blocks naming- disaster mitigation framework, city resilience, e-resilience, UNDRR-Sendai framework, HS-WHO, and a checklist to improve health system resilience. Dr Yasmin H Ahmed, Advisor, Bangladesh Health Watch gave an overview of Bangladesh Health Watch, its journey started in the year 2006 as a group of experts with a vision of facilitating universal health coverage for all the citizens in Bangladesh. Commitment to prioritize the well-being of its citizens and pave the way for a more prosperous future.

Find the event proceedings report HERE.