Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Saber Hossain Chowdhury announced that the 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, malaria and others.
The minister highlighted the nexus between health and climate change.
He said this in his speech as the chief guest in NIHR Global Health Research Centres Symposium organized by icddr,b on Non-Communicable Diseases and Environmental Change held at the Westin, Dhaka on Monday evening.
The minister said that climate change poses a severe threat, impacting our health and causing non-communicable diseases.
Environmental changes, particularly salinity in coastal water, are posing adverse impacts on health, contributing to NDCs related to climate change, he said.
Mentioning that Bangladesh wants to be a global partner in research, the environment minister said research action is required for the country.
The environment minister said 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 mentioned his ministry's 100-day program for a healthier Bangladesh.
Saber 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 Program, National Institute of Health and Care Research; Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director, icddr,b; Dr Aliya Naheed, Scientist, Nutrition Research Division, icddr,b.