The NIHR Global Health Research Centre for Non-communicable Diseases and Environmental Change was launched in Dhaka, Bangladesh at a dissemination seminar by the Non-Communicable Disease Control (NCDC) Program of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and icddr,b; in partnership with Imperial College London, UK; The George Institute for Global Health, India; Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research (India), and University of Brawijaya (Indonesia).
Mr Zahid Maleque, the Honorable Minister for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of Bangladesh, graced the occasion as the chief guest. Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director, icddr,b delivered the welcome address.
The centre is developing a programme of policy-relevant research, research capacity strengthening and community engagement to tackle the dual challenges of a rapidly growing burden of Non-Communicable diseases (NCDs) and the threat of global environmental change in Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The centre aims to improve the delivery of high-quality, equitable services, especially for marginalized populations most impacted by environmental change. It will also work towards strengthening of Primary Health Care in Bangladesh and develop multisectoral interventions through active engagement with communities that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of environmental change and NCDs.
The Bangladesh Centre will be directed by Dr Aliya Naheed, in collaboration with the NCDC, Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), and technical support provided by the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Imperial College of London, UK and University of Portsmouth, UK.
Dr Md. Anwar Hossain Howlader, Secretary, Health Services Division, MoHFW; Prof. Ahmedul Kabir, Additional Director General (Planning and Development), DGHS; Prof. Mohammad Robed Amin, Line Director, NCDC, DGHS; Prof. Christopher Millet, Imperial College, London; Dr Devarsetty Praveen, Centre Director, The George Institute for Global Health, India; Prof. Mashfiqus Salehin, BUET; Prof. Md. Ruhul Amin, Director, Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC); Md. Saifur Rahman, Superintending Engineer (Ground Water Circle), DPHE; Md. Ziaul Haque, Director (Air quality), Department of Environment and representatives from DGHS, DPHE, BWDB, Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka North City Corporation, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, World Health Organization, World Bank Group, UNICEF, WaterAid Bangladesh, Helen Keller International, icddr,b, Dhaka University, BUET were also present.
