A high-level workshop titled “Lessons Learned and Sustainability Planning for Climate-Resilient Health Systems in Bangladesh” was held in Dhaka on Monday, bringing together senior government officials, development partners and technical experts to review progress and outline next steps for strengthening climate-resilient health systems in the country.
The event was organised under ongoing climate and health initiatives led by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), with support from partners including the Global Fund, UNOPS, IEDCR, BRAC and relevant government programmes such as the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and the Communicable Disease Control unit of DGHS.
Bangladesh is increasingly facing climate-driven health risks, including the spread of dengue, malaria and waterborne diseases, alongside impacts from floods, cyclones and climate-induced displacement. In response, authorities and partners are expanding climate-informed disease surveillance, early warning systems and community-based adaptation measures to improve preparedness and protect vulnerable populations.
The Global Fund-supported climate and health project, implemented with technical support from UNOPS, was highlighted at the workshop. The initiative aims to strengthen surveillance and mapping of climate-sensitive diseases, enhance laboratory and diagnostic capacity at IEDCR, upgrade ICT systems for data management, and support logistics, procurement and human resources for improved service delivery.
It also supports NMEP and the DGHS Communicable Disease Control unit in strengthening response capacity and health services.
The workshop was attended by Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, as chief guest; Dr MA Muhit, State Minister, as special guest; and Md Quamruzzaman Chowdhury, Secretary of the Health Services Division, as chair.
Other attendees included senior DGHS officials, representatives from the Global Fund, UNOPS, ERD under the Ministry of Finance, IEDCR, BRAC and development partners.
Speaking at the event, the Health Minister said climate change is increasingly shaping public health risks in Bangladesh and strengthening climate resilience in the health system is now a national priority.
The State Minister said innovative approaches such as climate-informed surveillance and community-based interventions are already showing results and should be scaled up nationwide.
The Health Secretary stressed the need to integrate successful initiatives into national systems through long-term planning, financing and coordination.
DGHS Director General Prof Dr Pravath Chandra Biswas said climate integration is essential for timely response, preparedness and protection of vulnerable communities.
The Global Fund’s Senior Portfolio Manager Qi Cui said Bangladesh is demonstrating strong leadership in linking climate and health, while UNOPS Country Manager Sudhir Muralidharan said operational strengthening remains critical for sustainable implementation.
The workshop concluded with a commitment to deepen intersectoral collaboration, integrate climate-informed approaches into national health systems and ensure sustainable financing and capacity building.
The initiative supports Bangladesh’s progress towards Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (health and well-being) and SDG 13 (climate action).