Bangladesh hosts reproductive health sharing with Sahel countries
A High-level South-South Exchange on Population Policy and Reproductive health between Bangladesh and Sahel countries in Francophone Africa kicked off on Saturday afternoon at the Lake Shore Hotel, Dhaka.
The week-long international knowledge sharing conference will end on May 20, says a press release.
The South-South knowledge exchange between Bangladesh and Sahel countries in Africa will promote more effective population policies in the African countries.
The International Conference is jointly organized by the World Bank and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with the support of the Ministry of Health and Family welfare of Bangladesh.
The objective of the high-level conference is to learn about the Bangladesh Population Policy, and how reproductive health service was increased in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has a similar religious context to Sahel countries, and historically has faced many of the same challenges.
Specifically, these are the success and challenges of population program, sexual and reproductive health and rights including family planning and gender based violence.
The countries will see about Bangladesh successes in relation to the family planning and reproductive health services to enhance acceptance of local communities, said speakers at the inaugural session of the conference.
In the opening remarks, Qimiao Fan, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh said that Bangladesh is successful because they put women at the center of agenda for development including Government, NGOs collaboration for addressing family planning and population challenges.
Argentina Matavel Piccin, UNFPA Representative also spoke on the event.
Rakiatou Kaffa Jackou, Minister of Population, Niger, at the inaugural session said, ‘I would like to express my happiness for being able to visit this beautiful country. I hope during my visit here I will be able to enrich my knowledge over how Bangladesh succeeded involving the religious leaders in the implementation of population control policy’.
Sambel Bana Diallo, Minister for Regional Development and Population, Mali, thanked the government of Bangladesh for hosting the international conference.
Chief Guest, Dr. Zahid Malik, State Minister of Health and Family Welfare welcomed the delegation from the Sahel countries, and shared many successes of Bangladesh, specifically in the health sector.
Josiane Yaguibou, UNFPA Representative, Mali, Mr. Justin Koffi, SWEDD Regional Coordinator (UNFPA West and Central Africa Regional Office), World Bank Africa Region and other High level delegates from Burkina Faso, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania and Niger and officials from UN, WB, NGOs and Civil Society were also present at the event.
Dr Bushra Binte Alam, Senior Health Specialist, WB Bangladesh, conducted the inaugural session of the high level international conference.
