Bangladesh discusses parliaments’ role in ensuring ‘health for all’ in Geneva

Bangladesh along with the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), Italy and Lesotho has hosted on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva a high-level meeting on the role of parliaments in ensuring access to ‘health for all’.

Lawmaker Prof Md Habibe Millat represented Bangladesh as a panelist on Thursday.

The participants discussed the role of MPs in implementing international health commitments.

They recommended to parliaments ways of using their powers "to ensure adequate funding for health, raise awareness to end marginalization and discrimination and support advocacy efforts”.

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong, WHO Director General Margaret Chan, Speaker of the National Assembly of Lesotho Ntlhoi Motsamai, and parliamentarians from a number of countries also spoke at the discussion.

Prof Millat highlighted Bangladesh’s achievements, particularly on MDGs, which, he said, provided a “foundation” for the country’s pursuit of new development goals.

He, however, acknowledged the shortcomings, particularly inadequate skilled workers to handle childbirths, and said the government was aware of the task ahead and was committed to bringing about a change in the situation.

He said the Bangladesh Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (BAPPD) had been formed under the Chairmanship of the Speaker.

It has organised various policy dialogues, roundtable discussions, and consultations on reproductive health and rights, adolescents and youth, and child marriage in its deliberations with parliamentarians.

The project had also conducted a gap analysis on maternal health related policies and services in the country, and produced a policy brief for parliamentarians, Prof Millat told the meeting.