Shahe Alam urges World Bank to expedite urban public health project
State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam has urged the World Bank delegation to expedite implementation of activities under the ‘Improvement of Urban Public Health Preventive Services Project’.
The state minister made the call while delivering his concluding remarks at a review meeting held at the conference room of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives today.
Detailed discussions were held on the overall progress of the World Bank-funded project between representatives of the World Bank, led by Christophe Lemiere, and consultants of the Local Government Division and the Project Management Unit.
The meeting highlighted various development activities being implemented in Bangladesh with World Bank assistance.
The project is being implemented with a focus on several important areas. These include control of mosquito- and vector-borne diseases; management of medical waste outside hospitals (outhouse); addressing the impacts of climate change on public health, including heat waves, air and noise pollution; raising public awareness through behavioural change communication strategies; and creating necessary facilities to reduce non-communicable diseases.
The project covers Dhaka South City Corporation, Dhaka North City Corporation, Chattogram City Corporation, and the municipalities of Savar and Tarabo adjacent to Dhaka.
Expressing satisfaction over the overall progress of the project, Shahe Alam assured all-out cooperation from the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives for its speedy implementation.
Placing special emphasis on protecting the urban environment and public health, he urged the World Bank delegation to take initiatives to implement two separate new projects for medical waste management in Dhaka North and Dhaka South city corporations.
Director General of the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Inspection Wing of the ministry Shibir Bichitra Barua and Local Government Division Joint Secretary Md Robiul Islam, among others, attended the meeting.
