Exceptional health achievement

Bangladesh, the eighth most populous country in the world, has recently been applauded internationally as an exceptional health performer. In fact, Bangladesh has made exceptional strides in improvements of health standards and its success in family planning programmes has been phenomenal. We are much ahead of our neighbours as well as other developing countries in restricting family sizes.
As a matter of fact, health in Bangladesh is characterised by vertical and sustained reductions in birth rate and child mortality. Such exemplary performance may be attributed to a pluralistic health system that is gender-equity-oriented and highly focused on programmes in family planning, maternal and child health, tuberculosis, vitamin A supplementation and other tropical diseases. All these programmes are being implemented through the hard work of our widely developed community health workers across the country.
However, these remarkable achievements in the health sector are at times counter-balanced by the persistence of child diseases.
The Bangladesh paradox shows the net outcome of successful direct health action in both positive and negative social determinants of health. Bangladesh has created examples of health activities as to how gender equity can improve health outcomes, how health innovations can be scaled up and how direct health interventions can largely overcome socio-economic constraints.
Saeed Sazzad Jeris
Student, Department of Business Administration SUST.
saeedjeris30@gmail.com