In terms of providing clean water to hospitals and health care centers, Bangladesh is lagging behind the average quality in South Asia. Even though there are progresses in sanitation, the condition of hospitals and community clinics is not satisfactory. Government health officials always stressed that hospital cleanliness is also a major concern in Bangladesh.
In reality health centers have a considerable shortage of clean water and sanitation facilities. The waste management of these institutions is also not being done properly. This information was presented in the 'Global Foundation for Water-Sanitation-Sanitation in Healthcare Centers Report-2019'. A Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) report prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is being published globally.
The report claimed that most hospitals have safe water infrastructure, but there is no monitoring system. There lacks co-ordination on safe water and sanitation facilities in various health care institutions, including community clinics and upazila health complexes. Policies and guidelines are in place to ensure safe drinking water despite constraints and manpower shortages. However, there is no monitoring system in the countryside.
The meeting was jointly organized by the NGO Forum for Public Health and the Bangla daily Bhorer Kagoj in the conference room on Thursday morning. Speakers pointed out that major challenges are rising and inequality, loss of natural resources, environmental degradation and climate change are obstacles to ensuring safe water availability and sustainable management for all.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque spoke as the chief guest at the meeting. SMA Rashid, executive director of NGO Forum for Public Health, welcomed the meeting. Ahsan Habib presented the keynote section at the NGO Forum for Public Health (Research, Monitoring and Evaluation).
BRAC wash program director Zillur Rahman, Development Organisation of the Rural Poor director Jobaer Hassan, Water Aid (Policy Advocacy) director Abdullah Al Mueed and SIMAVI country coordinator Alok Majumder, among others, participated in the discussion. The meeting is also attended by senior government and private officials.