Bangladesh Health Watch launched

It will monitor the progress towards attaining health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and those included in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP).

It will also publish an annual report titled 'State of Health in Bangladesh' this year, highlighting equity issues in the health sector, a prime goal of the nation, said a press release.

BHW convener Prof Rounaq Jahan of RIB/Columbia University presided over the launching ceremony at the BRAC Auditorium while Mahfuz Anam, editor of The Daily Star, Khushi Kabir of Nijera Kori, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, Dr Azad Khan of Birdem, Dr Abbas Bhuiyan of ICDDR,B and Dr Mushtawue Chowdhury of BRAC spoke on the occasion.

The speakers highlighted the gains the nation has achieved in health sector but felt that there was no room for complacency as the country has to go a long way to reach the goals it has set for itself.

The Health Watch also formed an advisory board with the following members: Dr Rounaq Jahan, Dr Halida Akhter, Mahfuz Anam, Dr Maleka Banu, Prof JR Chowdhury, Dr Zafrullah Choudhury, Dr Jahangir Haider, Dr Zakir Hussain, Khushi Kabir, Dr M Kabir, Dr Azad Khan, Prof Sadeqa Tahera Khanam, Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud, Dr Mahmudur Rahman, Prof Rahman Sobhan, Dr MQK Talukder and Dr Mushtaque Chowdhury (member secretary).

The Health Watch will have its secretariat at the James P Grant School of Public Health at BRAC University.

Dr Kaiser Khan of World Bank, Dr Zakir Hussain of Public Health Association, Prof Kazi Saleh Ahmed of Jahangirnagar University, Dr Iftekharuzzaman of Transparency International, Dr A M Zakir Hussain of Asian Development Bank, Dr S M A Rashid of Water and Sanitation Forum, Dr Ahmed Al Kabir of RTM/JSI, Dr Dibaluk Singh of Dustha Shasthaya Kendra, Nasreen Haq of Action Aid, Dr Jahangir Haider of READ and Dr Julia Ahmad of BWHC took part in the open discussion session.