Staff Reporter :
A Global Affairs Canada (GAC) delegation comprising, members of Canadian parliamentarians and senators on Saturday visited icddr,b’s office in the city.
They have learned more about the innovative scientific research and impact of icddr,b and announced new priorities with focus on the women empowerment and the importance of community based initiative.
Since 1998, Canada has been providing consistent financial support for both core and project activities of icddr,b. GAC’s sustained funding has helped icddr,b yield research results that have contributed to permanent impact in public health in Bangladesh and globally.
The delegation included Members of Canadian parliamentarians and senators led by Ms. Yasmin Ratansi, MP, Chair of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Federal Branch, Salma Ataullahjan, Senator, Member of the Commonwealth Association, Marilou McPhedran, Senator, Member of the Commonwealth Association, Matthew Jeneroux, MP, Member of the Association, Alexandra Mendès, MP,
EXCO Member), Thomas Mulcair, PC, MP, Member of the Association, and Phedra Moon Morris, Head of Aid (Development Cooperation).
During the visit Yasmin Ratansi has lauded icddr,b’s work on feminist issues which is a priority for Canadian government and said “icddr,b has done a fabulous work in the field of maternal and child health. The Current Canadian government’s focus is research, innovation and development and we are happy to see the work being done here which are simple and effective.”
“I see that women in Bangladesh are empowered. With civil society’s engagement, Bangladesh will have better governance, better infrastructure. Overall, I see that Bangladesh has a positive trajectory,” Yasmin Ratansi added.
The delegation also visited icddr,b’s, Dhaka Hospital, the world’s largest diarrhoeal disease hospital to see for themselves the very low cost Bubble C-PAP, which has received worldwide media interest for its ability to cheaply treat infants suffering from severe pneumonia and hypoxaemia. icddr,b’s maternal and child health division includes innovations such as the ‘low cost birthing mat’, for use in simple non-clinical settings showing when post-partum hemorrhage is a danger, signalling the need to seek medical help.
Acting Senior Director Infectious Diseases Department (IDD) Dr Firduasi Qadri discussed icddr,b’s role in deploying the Global Stockpile in Oral Cholera Vaccinations to prevent a cholera outbreak in camps of Rohingya Myanmar Nationals (RMN) by launching one of the fastest vaccination programmes in the world.
“The signs of a major outbreak of cholera were evident in the RMN camps because of the unhygienic conditions. Working with national and international agencies, the World Health Organisation disbursed nine lakh doses of oral vaccination within six days, which is one of the fastest vaccination programmes in the world,” said Dr Firduasi Qadri.
Dr John Clemens, Executive Director of icddr,b, led a session on ‘Improving the Health and Status of Women and Girl’ and discussed the many synergies with G.A.C.’s new strategy.
A Global Affairs Canada (GAC) delegation comprising, members of Canadian parliamentarians and senators on Saturday visited icddr,b’s office in the city.
They have learned more about the innovative scientific research and impact of icddr,b and announced new priorities with focus on the women empowerment and the importance of community based initiative.
Since 1998, Canada has been providing consistent financial support for both core and project activities of icddr,b. GAC’s sustained funding has helped icddr,b yield research results that have contributed to permanent impact in public health in Bangladesh and globally.
The delegation included Members of Canadian parliamentarians and senators led by Ms. Yasmin Ratansi, MP, Chair of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Federal Branch, Salma Ataullahjan, Senator, Member of the Commonwealth Association, Marilou McPhedran, Senator, Member of the Commonwealth Association, Matthew Jeneroux, MP, Member of the Association, Alexandra Mendès, MP,
EXCO Member), Thomas Mulcair, PC, MP, Member of the Association, and Phedra Moon Morris, Head of Aid (Development Cooperation).
During the visit Yasmin Ratansi has lauded icddr,b’s work on feminist issues which is a priority for Canadian government and said “icddr,b has done a fabulous work in the field of maternal and child health. The Current Canadian government’s focus is research, innovation and development and we are happy to see the work being done here which are simple and effective.”
“I see that women in Bangladesh are empowered. With civil society’s engagement, Bangladesh will have better governance, better infrastructure. Overall, I see that Bangladesh has a positive trajectory,” Yasmin Ratansi added.
The delegation also visited icddr,b’s, Dhaka Hospital, the world’s largest diarrhoeal disease hospital to see for themselves the very low cost Bubble C-PAP, which has received worldwide media interest for its ability to cheaply treat infants suffering from severe pneumonia and hypoxaemia. icddr,b’s maternal and child health division includes innovations such as the ‘low cost birthing mat’, for use in simple non-clinical settings showing when post-partum hemorrhage is a danger, signalling the need to seek medical help.
Acting Senior Director Infectious Diseases Department (IDD) Dr Firduasi Qadri discussed icddr,b’s role in deploying the Global Stockpile in Oral Cholera Vaccinations to prevent a cholera outbreak in camps of Rohingya Myanmar Nationals (RMN) by launching one of the fastest vaccination programmes in the world.
“The signs of a major outbreak of cholera were evident in the RMN camps because of the unhygienic conditions. Working with national and international agencies, the World Health Organisation disbursed nine lakh doses of oral vaccination within six days, which is one of the fastest vaccination programmes in the world,” said Dr Firduasi Qadri.
Dr John Clemens, Executive Director of icddr,b, led a session on ‘Improving the Health and Status of Women and Girl’ and discussed the many synergies with G.A.C.’s new strategy.
