Dr. Toslim Uddin Khan, Social Marketing Company CEO, addresses the audience. Photo credit: URC

To achieve improved health outcomes, public, private, and non-governmental health care providers must join forces to collaboratively improve the quality of health care services and build resilient health systems.

On Jan. 17, URC gathered public, private, and non-governmental (NGO) health leaders for the “Integrated Community Development for Better Health: Perspectives from Bangladesh” learning event in Dhaka.

The event provided an opportunity for invitees – via two panels and keynote speeches – to share experiences and outline the way forward for community development in Bangladesh. Specifically, it addressed how to best ensure delivery of high-quality care at all levels of the health care system in Bangladesh and beyond.

Participants included:

  • Professor Dr. Ainun Nishat, Former Vice Chancellor, BRAC University and renowned educationalist;
  • USAID Mission Director Kathryn Stevens; and
  • Dr. Toslim Uddin Khan, Managing Director and CEO, Social Marketing Company.

Two panel discussions featured individuals with experience designing, implementing, and sustaining health systems that are responsive to the needs and preferences of the communities where they work. Panelists discussed how incorporating strong community actions and voices into health systems strengthens societal partnerships, builds capacity in communities, and promotes trust and shared accountability for health system performance.

The event highlighted promising interventions and good practices in health service delivery at the community level. Bangladesh has been a leader in public health research and implementation on a large scale for low-cost technologies provided at the community level.

Maureen Shauket, conference moderator and URC Chief Compliance Officer, said: “New thinking and learning from the experiences of others is key to improving the quality of care and health outcomes in the communities where we work.”

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