Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain has stressed the need for coordinated planning and joint initiatives involving all relevant ministries, saying the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved by relying solely on the Health Ministry.
He said ensuring healthcare required more than medicines and syringes, with greater emphasis needed on disease prevention.
The minister made the remarks at a national conference on SDG implementation and review at the Bangadesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, on Tuesday.
“Alongside education, law and order, and reducing gender inequality, we need to bring sectors such as water and social welfare together with the health sector to achieve SDG 3,” he said.
“SDG goals cannot be achieved with medicines or saline alone. Prevention must be the foundation, which the prime minister is giving the highest priority.”
Highlighting sanitation and hygiene practices in rural areas, Sakhawat said ensuring access to safe drinking water and raising public awareness about disease prevention were essential.
“We need to change unhealthy habits and lifestyles. People often touch dirty surfaces in markets and elsewhere and then handle money or engage in transactions without maintaining proper hygiene,” he said.
Referring to the water crisis in coastal areas, the health minister said people in the southwestern region were being forced to drink discoloured water due to shortages of safe drinking water and increasing salinity.
“I raised the issue at a conference in Paris last month, where we received assurances of international cooperation,” he said.
He also urged parents to remain aware of the harmful effects of excessive mobile phone and screen use among children, as well as the health risks associated with junk and fast food.
Calling on the Planning Commission to take a coordinated approach, Sakhawat said the SDGs could not be achieved by placing responsibility solely on the Health Ministry.
“An integrated plan involving the relevant ministries, including water resources, home affairs, social welfare and local government, must be developed,” he said.
“If the relevant ministries meet at least once every two months and jointly implement the plan, only then can we achieve the desired results.”
The minister also highlighted the need to prevent child marriage, raise awareness among mothers and promote breastfeeding. He also referred to efforts to promote vegetables and nutrition during the tenure of former president Ziaur Rahman.
“SDG targets cannot be achieved through isolated initiatives. They require joint action and coordinated implementation by all ministries,” he said.
The event was chaired by Professor Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
Water Resources Minister Md Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, MP, attended as a special guest, while reserved women’s seat lawmaker Anna Minj was the guest of honour.
Health Secretary Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury and Directorate General of Health Services Additional Director General Professor Dr Foara Tasnim, among others, were also present.