Dhaka:State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. MA Muhit has urged swift measures to shield children from escalating health dangers linked to climate change and urbanization. Speaking at a citizen dialogue on 'Climate Change Induced Risks to Urban Slum's Child Health Challenges and the Way Forward,' he highlighted the urgent need for action, citing lost time and the necessity to act now.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the event was organized by the Children Watch Foundation (CWF) at the Daily Star Bhaban. CWF Chairman and Environmental Innovation and Research Network (EIRN) Shah Israt Azmery presented a keynote paper, with CWF General Secretary Md Jahangir Alam presiding over the session.
Dr. Muhit underlined the intertwined nature of climate change, urbanization, and healthcare, noting that children are among the most vulnerable populations. He called for increased volunteerism and community engagement, particularly among youth, to tackle climate-related health challenges. He proposed deploying mobile medical teams to schools during heatwaves to provide timely health advice and services to children.
The government has announced plans to introduce solar and renewable energy systems in hospitals, aiming to make health facilities climate- and disaster-resilient. Dr. Muhit also highlighted the need for research on climate-related child health risks in flood-prone areas, advocating for interventions tailored to specific environmental challenges.
The government's focus on primary healthcare includes a manifesto commitment to provide free services to all citizens, with plans to expand the healthcare workforce significantly. New recruits would be equipped with modern tools and technologies to enhance community-level healthcare. Additionally, portable medical kits and devices are being considered to allow health workers to monitor chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension at the household level.
Dr. Muhit mentioned the launch of a Digital Health Hackathon to engage young innovators in developing solutions for the health system. He encouraged universities, researchers, and civil society organizations to contribute evidence-based recommendations for policy improvement.
Participants in the discussion included experts and representatives from various organizations, emphasizing the threats posed by climate change to children's health, particularly in low-income urban areas. Azmery's keynote highlighted the risks of extreme weather conditions and pollution, advocating for a climate-resilient health system and urban infrastructure, as well as community preparedness and policy integration. Other speakers stressed the importance of prioritizing child health in urban planning and public health initiatives to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change.