The icddr,b in collaboration with the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), James P. Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH) and Save the Children, Bangladesh is organising the 2nd international symposium on community health workers (CHWs) 2019. The symposium is to be held 22 to 24 November 2019 at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.
This was announced at a press conference on Tuesday held at the Conference Room, MIS, DGHS, in the capital.
This year’s theme is ‘Potentials of Community Health Workers in Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the Context of Universal Health Coverage (UHC)’. The theme further expanded to four sub themes – a) CHWs programmes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), b) CHWs and Universal Health Coverage (UHC), c) CHWs in special situations such as urban health care, disaster and climate change and humanitarian context; and finally d) CHWs programmes and prevention and control of NCDs.
The symposium has received immense interest from the participants around the world. About 500 participants from more than 35 countries have registered in this symposium to gain practical knowledge and experience about CHWs related policy and programmes. 232 abstracts have been received of which 141 were selected for oral and poster presentation. 20 young participants from LMICs were selected for scholarships based on the merit of their abstract.
The 1st International Symposium on CHWs was held in 2017 in Kampala, Uganda and showcased the contribution of the CHW programmes across different areas of health related to sustainable development goals (SDGs). The Dhaka Symposium brings academics, health experts, development partners and other relevant professionals to a common platform to discuss about the successes and challenges with the CHWs.
These will also enable formulation of better strategic pathways of how CHWs can help communities to win the new fight against NCDs further to attain UHC and Sustainable Development Goal- 3 targets.
During the press conference, Prof. Dr. Nasima Sultana, Additional Director General (Admin), DGHS, shared the background of the symposium. She said, "The community health workers are unsung heroes and have been a powerful workforce in promoting health services around the world. Informally originating in China in the 1920s, they were initially engaged in birth and death registration, vaccination, providing basic health education and first-aid services. Presently, the CHWs are considered as ‘alternative solutions’ and have received increased attention in many LMICs including Bangladesh.”
She also spoke about the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries, including in Bangladesh.
Dr. Iqbal Anwar, Scientist and Project Director SHARE Project, Health Systems and Population Studies Division, icddr,b presented the historical aspects of community health workers and the past symposium.
Prof. Dr. Md. Abul Hashem Khan, Line Director, Community Based Health Care (CBHC), DGHS, MOHFW, Professor Dr. Sabina Faiz Rashid, Dean JPGSPH, and Dr. Farzana Islam, Project Director, Save the Children, Bangladesh and Dr. Samir Kanti Sarker, Ex- Line Director, MIS, DGHS were also present at the press conference.
The symposium is also supported by USAID, European Union, UKaid, MSH, Vital Strategies, BRAC, UNICEF, UNFPA, and WHO.
