সংযোগ

One Health Meeting New Global Challenges

One Health is an approach that recognizes that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environment. This approach assist in designing and implementing program, policies, legislation and research by the organization to achieve better public health outcomes. Common One Health issues include zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety and food security, vector-borne diseases, environmental contamination, and other non-communicable health threats.

When the people, animals, and environment are put together they make up the One Health Triad. The One Health Triad shows how the health of people, animals, and the environment are linked to one another. It needs a multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral approach to address potential or existing risks that originate through this triad.

Why One Health Approach is needed?
In recent years many factors influences the interaction between people, animals, plants, and our environment.

• Human populations are growing that leads to expansion of inhabitation into new geographic areas causes more people to live in close contact with wild and domestic animals, both livestock and pets. This provides more opportunities for diseases to pass between animals and people.
• Climate change, deforestation and intensive farming practices causes environmental disruptions and provide new opportunities for diseases to pass to animals.
• The mobility increases due to international travel and trade. As a result, diseases can spread quickly across borders and around the globe.
• Multi-antimicrobial resistance strain of bacteria.

A number of same microbes infect both animals and humans, as they live in same environment; microbes can transmitted through direct contact between animals and humans , through contaminated food and other means. Preventive action targeting to one sector cannot prevent or eliminate the problem. So for effective prevention, a well-coordinated approach both for humans and in animals is required.

No one person, organization, or sector can address issues at the animal-human-environment interface alone. The principles of One Health provide an effective approach for dealing with problems related to the human-animal-ecosystem interface.

Human societies develop, and livestock revolution presents new health challenges
Many of history's most devastating pandemics have animal origins, including the Justinian Plague (541–542 AD), the Black Death (Europe, 1347), yellow fever (South America, sixteenth century), and the global flu (known as Spanish Flu) outbreak of 1918—as well as modern pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Ebola virus, anthrax, Nipah virus and Avian influenza. Scientists estimate that more than 6 out of every 10 known infectious diseases in people can be spread from animals, and 3 out of every 4 new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals.

People eat a wide range of animals, both farm raised and wild, and many of these can harbor bacteria, viruses, or parasites that can be transmitted to humans. This makes the production, processing, and consumption of livestock, as well as the hunting, preparation, and consumption of wild meat, potential paths of disease transmission. As human societies develop, each era of livestock revolution presents new health challenges. The human health system now requires emphasizing the need of bringing one health concept as an overarching issue to consider both for man and animal health.

Who will work for One Health approach?
A range of experts on public health, animal health, plant health and the environment need to work jointly for public health intervention to support One Health approaches.

Challenges to implementing a One Health approach in Bangladesh
- Inadequate coordination and collaboration between the line agencies and operational departments
- Needs of strong leadership and partners’ commitment in implementation of the One Health approach
- Gap in knowledge, networking and capacity of the professionals, etc.

Strategic Framework for One Health approach
To address the challenges Bangladesh developed a Strategic Framework for One Health approach that provides the platform for initiatives for prevention, early warning and control emerging, re-emerging and high impact infectious diseases for improving health outcomes for the people, animals and environment ecosystem of Bangladesh.

Strategic framework broadly addresses institutionalization of One Health capacity building of partners, advocacy and communication, networking, and behavioral and social aspect of the disease patterns. Social and Behavior Change Communication can play a vital role in sensitizing the stakeholders, mobilizing the communities and ensuring coordination and collaboration among the relevant stakeholders and organizations on implementation of the Strategic Framework for One Health approach. In this regards the One Health Hub Bangladesh serves as a networking and coordination hub connecting people, organizations and groups involved in One Health activities in Bangladesh.

By promoting collaboration across all sectors, One Health approach can achieve better health outcomes for people, animals, and plants in a shared environment; sustained collaboration between organizations responsible for implementing the One Health program for its success.

HPN Coordination Committee finds its way to contribute maximizing inter unit coordination and gain better program impact

An overarching consensus was found on the role of inter-unit coordination to attain better program impact in the 31st meeting of the HPN Coordination Committee. Presided over by Mr. Md. Abdul Aziz, Chief, BHE this committee meeting was held in Zoom platform on October 24, 2021 while Dr. Saiful Islam, LD, LHE&P also attended the meeting. Representatives from the HPN units participated the meeting and NNS, IEM and BHE made their presentation over the SBCC work progresses after the last meeting of the HPN Coordination Committee. The BHE Chief welcomed the participants and expected for a good and interactive discussions.

The unit wise presentation highlighted the following key activities as on-going and as the upcoming activities:

NNS

On-going:
- Broadcast 26 live TV talk show titled “Pushti Sommridhi” and an interactive discussion on the nutritional issues through BTV
- 22-episode phone-in program broadcast through Bangladesh Betar and linked up community in the interactive discussions
- Revised and updated the IYCF strategy and the communication plan
- Developed, produced and distributed variety and numbers of print SBCC materials on various aspects of nutrition
- TV scroll messaging on different nutritional issues broadcast through different TV channels
- Country-wide observation of National Nutritional Week through various national and community level campaign approaches
- Community level campaign on maternal nutrition held in 1807 Community Clinics
- Enter-educative TV program planned and broadcast on the source of nutritious food, breast feeding and geriatric nutrition.

Upcoming:
- Digital media campaign through you tube, twitter and facebook to promote maternal nutrition, breast feeding, adolescent and geriatric nutrition
- Designing, development and launching of a new website
- Designing, development and airing of a 13-episode radio drama serial.

IEM

On-going:
- World Population Day was observed in zoom platform connecting FP professionals throughout the country
- National mourning day was observed through multi-media approaches
- OP planning for 2021-2022 period was held in a workshop to bring inter-unit with NGO coordination for better and effective implementation.

Upcoming:
- A nationwide family welfare service and campaign week have been planned to hold on December 18-31, 2021.

BHE

On-going:
- District and upazila level workshop in 35 district and 111 upazila on different aspect of communicable and non-communicable diseases
- SBCC monitoring apps is being implemented in 12 upazila to digitally collect data and make effective supervision
- Health and Covid-19 related scroll messages are being provided in different TV channels
- 12 service packages have been contracted out for community awareness on communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Upcoming:
- Training on environmental and occupational health awareness issues for the Senior and Junior Health Education Officer
- 5-day training on the Health Communication and on SBCC for the Senior and Junior Health Education Officer
- Organize training on eToolkit and eLearning course for the Health Educators.

At the conclusion Dr. Saiful Islam urge upon all Health and Family Planning officials to concentrate their effort for attaining the goals and targets of the HPNSP. Healthy life of people and creating a healthy nation will be possible with the attainments of these goals and targets. The coordination between the units through this HPN Coordination Committee will expediate our achievement and attaining better program impact. He thanked Ujjiban to provide their continuous support for keeping the HPN Coordination Committee become functional.

Process oriented comprehensive massages and materials for FDMNs & Host

Bangladesh provides shelter to about one million Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) who fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar. The large FDMNs population outnumbers the host community by about 2:1 ratio in the affected upazilas, posing significant risks of exposure to natural disasters, road communication, crowding and congestion in haat-bazar, social service delivery system, etc.

The Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) has been implementing the Emergency Multi-Sector Rohingya Crisis Response Project (EMCRP) that is aided by the World Bank. The project was launched to provide greater protection to FDMNs in times of natural disaster and improve social service delivery system by improving communication network, social resilience, and other facilities. Due to lack of adequate awareness about the project interventions, the Displaced Rohingya Populations (DRP) may not be motivated enough to get engaged in activities to benefit themselves from the services and project interventions provided to them or even there may be some opposition to the interventions as well.

Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs (BCCP) has been engaged Communication Awareness Service firm (CAS) for EMCR Project. Through this 30 months assignment BCCP has developed a Communication Strategy and implementing the strategy in Ukhia and Teknaf Upazilas to increase awareness and motivation and mobilization of the Displaced Rohingya Population (DRP) and Host communities about service facilities and social cohesion, BCC knowledge and capacities of the program staff, facilitate engagement and consultation among the stakeholders. Following the BCC strategy developed by BCCP, a Message Development Workshop for identifying message and materials for the local level campaign of EMCRP to raise awareness among the beneficiaries and communicate the benefits of accepting the services was conducted. The Workshop was organized with the support from relevant stakeholders includes Project Management Unit (PMU), LGED, DPHE and Office of the Rohingya Refugee Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC). A total of 20 participants with varied capacity and skills from Government, RRRC, INGOs, local NGOs, media representatives and creative people attended the workshop.

As outcome of the workshop the key message themes and list of draft message ideas were generated for the EMCRP campaign. Following the Message Development Workshop BCCP team has developed a list of print materials for different target groups of the DRP and Host community. In the development process the EMCRP CAS Working Group members (Formed with the experts and stakeholders of EMCRP, the Working Group plays an important role as technical advisory group) have reviewed the message and materials thoroughly and provided their specific inputs and advice to BCCP team. Considering the language diversities, each material has been developed in Bangla (for the Host Communities), English and Burmese (for the DRP) languages.
All the materials have been duly pretested with the target population at camps and Host Communities and service providers/front liners/volunteers and with related program managers like LGED, DPHE, Islamic Foundation, Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP).

Tagline: For EMCRP communication and Awareness Program BCCP developed a Campaign Tagline which will be using all communication materials and outreach activities. The Tagline was also pretested with the target audience and community level stakeholders and finalized as “সেবা সুবিধা আমার, যত্নে করি ব্যবহার ”

Posters: Two Posters have been designed developed on a) Safe Water and b) WASH practice. The Posters have been pre-tested with the target audience and shared with the Working Group. After a thorough review from the Working Group, the Final Posters have been produced in Bangla for Host Community and bilingual in English and Burmese for the Rohingya Camps. A total of 6000 posters has been produced in two designs.

Leaflets: Two Leaflets have been designed and developed on a) Safe Water and b) EMCRP Service Facilities during the reporting period. The Posters have been pre-tested with the target audience and share with Working Group. After thorough review from the Working Group the final Leaflets have been submitted to PMU for approval of production. The Leaflets will be produced in Bangla for Host Community and in English and Burmese for the Rohingya Camps. A total of 100,000 Leaflets will be produced in two designs.

Sign Boards: Two signboards have been designed on a) Forest Conservation and b) Cyclone Warning System. BCCP produced and placed a total of 47 signboards at camps and Host Communities in two designs. The locations have been selected and finalized as per guidance from the respective Upazila LGED Officials and locations for the Rohingya Camps were selected as per suggestion from Site Management of respective CICs.

Ramadan Timetable: A Ramadan timetable designed with WASH practice related messages. But due to COVID 19 related restrictions that was not printed/distributed in this year (2021). The timetable will be printed with same design and messages in the year of 2022.

Khutbah Sermon: During the Reporting period BCCP team has developed and finalized two Khutbah Sermon for the Muslim Religious Leaders on (i) Cleanliness and (ii) Social cohesion. The Khutbah Sermons have been shared and endorsed by Bangladesh Islamic Foundation Cox’s Bazar. Finally, the material has been reviewed thoroughly by the Working Group and got approved from PMU. The Khutbah Sermons have been developed in Bangla for Host Community and in English and Burmese for Rohingya Camps. The Sermon were distributed to the religious leader of 50 mosques from the Host Community and Rohingya Camps.

All the materials have been pretested with the target audience and service providers and got due endorsement by the respective authorities like PMU, local stakeholders, CPP, Islamic Foundation, CICs etc. Some more print materials development, community radio program and video productions are in process.

SBCC intervention overlapping requires averting with appropriate planning and coordination

     - Ms. Shahan Ara Banu, Director General Family Planning

A wider coverage and extended participation marked strategizing implementation planning for the IEC Operational Plan (OP) 2021-2022 in a workshop to have stakeholder, inter-unit and NGO consultation for better implementation of the planned SBCC activities. This planning workshop has been providing an opportunity to accommodate requirement of other units and tuning up messages and modality of the planned SBCC activities. As focal unit for SBCC in DGFP the IEM unit has been planning and organizing this workshop since 2018 with the technical assistance from the USAID-Ujjiban SBCC project.

In order to have wider coverage and extended participation the OP Planning workshop held in two batches. The first workshop was held in the conference room of IEM on October 14, 2021 and the second one held on October 17, 2021. A total of 48 officials represents different DGFP units and selected national level NGOs participated the workshops. The DGFP formally opened the workshop while the unit Director and officials from the MoHFW also attended the workshop in the opening session and also took part in an open discussion. The MoHFW officials and unit Directors includes; Joint Chief-Planning Wing, MoHFW, Director-Administration, Director-MIS, Director-Finance, Divisional Director-Dhaka and Director-MCH. The Director-IEM presided over the opening session of the workshop. In her opening remarks Ms. Shahan Ara Banu, the Director General of Family Planning emphasized upon the important role of the IEC OP as it is the centerpiece for SBCC activities to be planned and conducted for all other units of DGFP. This OP planning workshop is also very important as SBCC intervention overlapping requires averting with appropriate planning and coordination to be ensured with joint planning by inter-unit, stakeholder and NGO participation. She thanked Ujjiban for their TA support in planning and organizing this workshop and expected continuation of such support for DGFP’s capacity and system strengthening.

Mr. Amir Hossain, Director-IEM made his concluding notes in this session by saying that SBCC approaches take human behavior in to consideration which requires thorough understanding of people’s behavior, attitude and practices. He hoped this joint planning will contribute to better mobilize a concerted effort attaining a model health and family planning behavior in to a community practice. He thanked the stakeholders and workshop attendees for their participation. He also thanked Ujjiban for their continuous support for the DGFP as well as for the IEM.

In the open discussion part of the workshop participants raised various SBCC issues those could have added as recommended activities in the planned IEC OP 2021-2022. Key recommendations of the activities were:
- Development of service delivery information related apps and maintenance of these apps requires attention
- Better coordination, cooperation and collaboration amongst DGFP units and NGOs in implementation of the OP activities will enable attaining synergistic impact
- Readiness of the service delivery sites and capacity building of the service providers will contribute attaining better program implementation and SBCC program results
- People’s changing communication choice, practice and reach requires attention of the SBCC program planners for appropriate and effective intervention/activity planning
- Re-introduce gift packet for the newly wed couples and have these gift giving events in to live TV broadcast
- Quality services and quality delivery of services - both are very important considerations and the development of appropriate promotional materials can contribute in to it
- Program hindrances and obstacle are to be addressed and community mobilization through SBCC approaches has to be undertaken.

After the open discussion there was a formal presentation on the topic titles “Leadership and Coordination” to bring the workshop attendees in to a discussion followed by the understanding that program implementation requires leadership quality so that everyone, from the frontline supervisor/worker to higher/highest officials, attain their leadership role to play in order to have appropriate program designing, development and implementation based on the current and local need as well as the importance of doing it in a coordinated way.

This presentation was followed by a group work that went through certain worksheet format to identify recommended addition/alteration in to the SBCC activities of OP 2021-2022 by thematic area.

Thematic Area



Key recommendations made by the groups through group working:
- Revitalization of school health, population and nutrition education program through Audio-visual shows
- ‘Poribar Sommelon’ events to engage development partners and media partners to enhance participation and engagement of the community people
- Coordination between GO and NGO is a vital issue to avoid duplication of SBCC program implementation
- Capacity building of service provider to provide effective and essential services through appropriate counselling and motivation
- Private health and FP service facilities are to be brought under univocal HPN messaging and promotional campaigns
- Regional station of Bangladesh Betar and Shilpakala Academy can be engaged to broadcasting of folk song, jarigan and pot song on different service promotions
- Population, Health and Nutrition Cell of Bangladesh Betar can be engaged in use of mobile apps and promoting social media campaigns
- Orient marriage registrar to promote the pre-marital counselling issues and for enhanced use of the PMC guidebook.

Coordination plays a vital role attaining better and increased program impact

      Mr. Syed Mojibul Hoq, Additional Secretary (PH), HSD, MoHFW

A widespread consensus on the need of GO-NGO coordination were visible while the BCC Working Group (BCCWG) met for its 32nd meeting held on October 18, 2021 at the IEM conference room of DGFP. This meeting was attended by a total of 31 participants represents the MoHFW, HPN Directorate and NGOs. Mr. Syed Mojibul Hoq, Additional Secretary (PH), HSD, MoHFW chaired this meeting while Mr. Nitish Chandra Sarker, Additional Secretary, ME&FW attended it as co-chairperson. The DGFP and DGHS Line Directors attended this meeting were the IEM, FSD and the CCSDP while other Ministry level participants were Mr. M Jashim Uddin, Deputy Secretary, PH-2, HSD, MoHFW and Dr. S A Osmani, Deputy Secretary, HSD, MoHFW. The unit level participants represent this meeting were the IEM, CBHC, PHC and NNS and the NGO representatives were from the SMC, Pathfinder International, Surjer Hasi Network, Sesame Workshop, Chemonics Intl. and Concepto Advertising.

At the beginning of meeting the Director-IEM described the objective of the BCCWG by saying that it is a platform for SBCC professionals from different backgrounds to learn, network and share experiences related to SBCC for HPN in Bangladesh. The BCCWG promotes the coordination and harmonization of HPN SBCC efforts in support to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The other usual courses of the meeting went through by reading of the minutes of the 31st meeting of the BCCWG followed by find out about the actions pursuing the decisions of the last meeting that includes:
- Current status of sending of the SHPNE package book to the field level trainers and the plan for ToT
- Field level integration and implementation status of the school level orientation on this package
- Status of nationwide sending of the Operational Guidebook on the HPN SBCC committees at the district and upazila level.


As next course of the meeting the HPN units and NGOs made presentations to appraise the meeting over their progress of SBCC activities accomplished after the last meeting of the BCCWG. Following units/NGOs made their presentations:
- Bureau of Health Education
- Community Based Health Care
- National Nutrition Service
- Sukhi Jibon
- USAID-Ujjiban SBCC Project

The Ujjiban SBCC project sought concurrence of the meeting about inclusion of seven newly added and approved program components in the PM eToolkit. These are:
1. School HPN Education Package
2. Curriculum on Leadership and Coordination in HPN Sector
3. Guideline on Operation of HPN SBCC Coordination Committee
4. Guideline on Use and Installation of eToolkit and eLearning course
5. User Guideline of OSMA Application Software
6. User Guideline of SAMCS app
7. Annual HPN SBCC Monitoring Reports: 2017-18 and 2018-19

Following these presentations over work progressing reports, the Chairperson opined out that in order to determine the reach, access and effectiveness of the media approaches as been undertaken by different units and NGOs as part of their SBCC interventions need to be assessed through a comprehensive media survey. He also pointed out that the child marriage has rampantly been increased during the Covid-19 that MoHFW program units and NGOs to consider undertaking appropriate interventions to combat this problem. He, however, concurred with the inclusion of seven new approved program components in the PM eToolkit.

In this part of discussion Dr. Zeenat Sultana DCoP, Ujjiban SBCC project draw attention of the attendee members about providing project news, organizational information, accomplishment reporting, success stories to Ujjiban for these news/report posting in the BCCWG website. As Ujjiban is working as secretariat of maintenance of BCCWG website they will make regular updates and the website will remain as vibrant and interactive.

In his concluding remarks Mr. Nitish Chandra Sarker, Additional Secretary, ME&FW; the Co-chairperson of the meeting emphasized the need of integrated messaging to be maintained by the entire GO-NGOs working in the HPN fields to maximize resources and avoid duplication. He opined that the BCCWG has become a unique platform to attain this objective and will work as a constant source of vertical coordination and sharing of reciprocated information.

Mr. Syed Mojibul Hoq, Additional Secretary (PH), HSD, MoHFW and Chairperson of the meeting made his concluding remarks reiterated with the obvious need of the GO-NGO coordination. He upheld the need of regular meeting of the BCCWG following the GoB circular. This platform can contribute to the attainment of HPNSP targets. He also discoursed that the coordination plays a vital role attaining better and increased program impact. He thanked attendee members for their participation and to Ujjiban for their TA support to the MoHFW and HPN units on SBCC.

National HPN SBCC Strategy Implementation and Monitoring Committee met in its meeting and make some guidance over the SBCC implementation and monitoring issues

In order to observe and guide the implementation and monitoring of the HPN SBCC programs whether being appropriately designed, implemented and monitored following the Comprehensive SBCC Strategy of the MoHFW; the National HPN SBCC Strategy Implementation and Monitoring Committee was formed in 2018 being the Additional Secretary (PH), HSD, MoHFW as chair and the Additional Secretary, ME&FWD, MoHFW as Co-chair. This committee has been providing a great level of guidance over the implementation and monitoring of the SBCC approaches and activities in the HPN fields in attainment HPNSP goal and targets by 2023.

This committee met in its 4th meeting held on October 19, 2021 in the MoHFW conference room. A total of 21 members of this committee attended this meeting and the Director level members include; Director-MIS (DGFP), Director-Mass Communication, Director-PHC (DGHS), Director-Bangladesh Betar, Director-IEM, Chief-BHE and Line Director-CCSDP. The DS, PM and DPM level representative member attended the meeting includes; DS-HSD, MoHFW; PM-FSD, PM-CDC, Deputy Chief-BHE, DPM-NNS and DPM-CBHC.

The chairperson of this committee Mr. Syed Mojibul Hoq, Additional Secretary (PH), HSD, MoHFW and the co-chairperson Mr. Nitish Chandra Sarker, Additional Secretary, ME&FW attended this meeting while Mr. M Jashim Uddin, Deputy Secretary, PH-2, HSD, MoHFW attended it as Member-Secretary of this committee.

At the beginning of the meeting the Member-Secretary read out the minutes of the last meeting and made an update over the decisions and follow-up actions. Following the meeting agenda Dr. Zeenat Sultana, DCoP, Ujjiban made an overview of the compiled Annual HPN SBCC Monitoring Report 2019-2020. This compilation found that 28 reports were received from the GO and NGOs. The meeting has been appraised over the holding of cascaded model of Leadership and Coordination ToT and follow-on actions. A review of the functionality of the SBCC committees at the district and upazila level was also made in the meeting. The meeting also discussed about the monitoring of program activities and the coordination amongst the HPN SBCC OPs.

Other issues discussed in the meeting were about the use of OSMA application and archiving of SBCC materials by both the HSD as well as the ME&FW division. Issues related with the field level integration of the SHPNE package implementation at the school level have been discussed in the meeting. The meeting noted that there are few important issues to place for decision in the National Steering Committee for implementation of HPN SBCC Strategy and this committee meeting is also now remained over due to hold it within shortest possible time.

The meeting had following key decisions undertaken:
- A follow-up letter be issued for submission of the Annual HPN SBCC Monitoring Report 2019-2020 by next 15 days those have not yet submitted it.
- Use of OSMA application and archiving of SBCC materials to be maintained by both the HSD as well as the ME&FW division.
- The cascaded model of Leadership and Coordination ToT found effective and the HPN unit Line Directors can adopt it as a program intervention.
- A joint letter to be issued by HSD and the ME&FW division of MoHFW for field level integration of the SHPNE package implementation at the school level by both the DGHS and the DGFP front line supervisors/workers.
- Initiative be undertaken and necessary processes to be initiated for organizing meeting of the National Steering Committee for implementation of HPN SBCC Strategy.

Unified, integrated and uniform School Health, Population and Nutrition Education program got underway

The implementation process of most wanted and long waiting unified, integrated and uniform School Health, Population and Nutrition Education (SHPNE) program have been initiated with its first batch of ToT held on December 13-15, 2021 in the multipurpose hall of BCCP. As part of cascaded model, this ToT have been planned for the headquarter level officials of the HPN units under DGHS and DGFP with representation from NGOs those are having school health program and will in turn organize ToTs in their units and organizations. The three-day ToT was attended by 21 GoB participants represents NNS, BHE, LHE&P, CBHC, MNCAH and MIS units of DGHS while the DGFP represents FSD, IEM and MCH units. The 3 NGO participants were from the Surjer Hashi Network and Ujjiban SBCC project.

This ToT was formally inaugurated by Mr. Sayed Mojibul Haque, Additional Secretary, Public Health, Health Service Division of the MoHFW. In his inaugural speech Mr. Sayed Mujibul Hoq underscored the need of such a comprehensive issue based unified and uniform school health education package that encompasses the population and nutrition issues along with the health one. He emphasized on the field level integration of this package as a powerful plan to extend coverage of schools by the front-line workers of the DGHS and DGFP while NGO will also run their school education program with the same package and contribute to extending coverage and reach.

A wide range of methodologies were adopted in designing of the ToT that comprised of plenary discussion, presentation, brainstorming, question-answer, experiential learning, group work and group work presentation made the ToT as interactive, participatory and as a source of learning enacted a good learning environment in the training sessions. As the participants of this ToT will be required to become trainer of the larger trainers’ group of professional, the ToT incorporated a wider scope for group work practice and make presentations as a real time trainer.

This sort of environment facilitated participant to acquire better training skills, apply better participatory approach practiced out of their proactive participation in the plenary and the group work practice for better preparation to develop themselves as a master trainer. The ToT participant’s interest and enthusiasm displayed the optimism that the planned upcoming ToT program will have good trainers and an effective training program can be envisaged to be taken place throughout the roll-out of this cascaded model of training.

The concluding session of the ToT was attended by Mr. Nitish Chandra Sarker, Additional Secretary, Pop., FW and Law, ME and FWD, MoHFW and Ms. Liza Talukdar, Project Management Specialist, OPHNE, USAID-Dhaka. In her speech Ms. Liza Talukdar termed the unified and uniform SHPNE package and its integrated implementation in the field as a great initiative which will be addressing the RH, AH and GBV issues those will remain as a major factor for a sustainable health outcome of the country.

In his concluding remarks Mr. Nitish Chandra Sarker opined that this unification, integration and standardization of the SHPNE package will bring manifold benefit in country’s health education program. He also mentioned that prevention part of the health system has been focused in this package which will contribute to attain a sustainable health system in the near future.

Divisional BCC Working group continues with its coordinational responsibilities and have their eighth meeting in Sylhet

8th Divisional BCC Working Group meeting was held virtually at Sylhet on December 23, 2021. A total of 17 participants from Government and NGO those are working in the Sylhet Division participated in the meeting. Divisional Directors both from the health and family planning participated in the meeting. Dr. Himangshu Lal Roy, Divisional Director-Health was present as Chairperson in the meeting and Mr. Kutub Uddin, Divisional Director, Family Planning were present in the meeting as Co-chair respectively. Objective of the meeting was to share the existing HPN SBCC program/activities being implemented by the GoB and NGO in the Sylhet division and promote coordination for better synergy in implementing the 4th sector development program and attain better program impact.

In addition to the DGHS and DGFP program officials the meeting had NGO representations from the USAID Ujjiban project, SHIMANTIK, CNRS, IDEA and Sukhi jibon. In the inception of the meeting the chairperson welcomed the participants. Divisional Information Office, Ujjiban CSS and CM team, Shimantik, IDEA, USAID-Shikhi Jibon and FIVDB presented their ongoing SBCC activities. Chairperson of the meeting Dr. Himangshu Lal Roy, Divisional Director-Health, Sylhet thanks Ujjiban to organize the meeting even after a long time due to pandemic situation. He also opined that as the pandemic situation is now in lower trend from onward effort will be taken to organize the meeting in person otherwise field program will be hampered seriously.

The meeting decided to continue Divisional BCC Working Group meeting quarterly on rotation basis. Next meeting will be held on end of March 2021 in Divisional Health office, Sylhet.

In the closing remarks, the Co- chairperson. Mr. Kutub Uddin , Divisional Director-Family Planning, Sylhet expressed hopes that such BCC Working group meeting will profusely contribute to avoiding duplication of work by coordinated effort.

BCCP STAR OF THE MONTH

As a strategic communication organization, BCCP evaluates each staff in 360 degree each year. But to vibrate the best practices, BCCP started to appreciate the best performer of the month from July 2020 as “BCCP Star of the Month”. We are acknowledging all of them. Below is the three BCCP Star of the Month during July to September 2021.

Mr. Arshed Ali, Facility Care Assistant (BCCP Star of the month October 2021)
Mr. Arshed Ali is a Facility Care Assistant of BCCP has established his image as a multi-tasking staff member. He is dependable for support services at training/workshop, to make a dummy of any part of BCC materials like; flipchart, dangler, brochure etc. and also to operate and maintain the multimedia, sound system and other IT types of equipment. Recently he is working as an efficient marketing team member of “UTSHO” (A sister concern of BCCP/ICL as a super shop) by using the PoS (Point of Sale) operating system.

Mr. Ali Ashgar, Program Officer (BCCP Star of the month November 2021) Mr. Ashgar is the Program Officer of BCCP has known as a sincere and responsible team member. He is serving in this organization for around 17 years. Being accommodative is his art and to be loyal to the organization is his passion. He contributed to many projects of BCCP in different capacities and served those with his all diligence, sincerity and honesty. He closely worked with the message and material development team of BCCP that made him as an effective message/material developer. Personally, he is a stage artist.


Mr. Abdus Salam, Program Manager; (BCCP Star of the month December 2021) Mr. Abdus Salam has eighteen years of experience in implementation of various strategic communication programs. He has extensive skills in organizing different types of training, workshop, event management, launching program, secretarial responsibility, coordinate & liaison with high government officials. He has excellent background in managing and tactfully handling the program on different issues including Public Procurement Reform, Madrasa Student, Life Skills, Local Level Advocacy, Adolescent Reproductive Health etc.

In 2008, One Health concept related activities started in Bangladesh, with a goal to effectively coordinate among all government, private, and international stakeholders and is being seen as the key tool to respond to emerging diseases such as nipah virus, bird-flu and pandemic flu, avian influenza, anthrax, chikungunya and finally the most infectious disease coronavirus. In the one health approach, the scientists suggest bringing relationship between the human health and animal health as well as with environmental health.

The One Health approach would not only help address zoonotic diseases but different kinds of public health threats including antibiotic resistance, vector-borne diseases, food safety, chronic diseases and mental health issues as well, according to experts.

The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the relevance of One Health principles in the global and national level governance of infectious diseases. Bangladesh like the rest of the world, initially faced severe problems in conducting coronavirus test and ensuring treatment for the patients in absence of adequate test equipment and medicines and later on the availability of vaccines. In this crisis moment, the ‘One Health’ concept has played a vital role in fighting against the Covid-19 in the country bringing scientists, physicians and different departments of the government, non-government and autonomous institutes under the same umbrella to work together by sharing technology and ideas along with the global support for the availability of vaccines.

The One Health Secretariat is located at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research in Dhaka. It has been operating as per the Strategic Framework and Action Plan for the Application of a One Health Approach in Bangladesh (2017 – 2021). The One Health Day is observed across the world on November 3 every year. One Health Day is an international campaign co-coordinated by the One Health Commission, the One Health Initiative Autonomous pro bono Team and the One Health Platform Foundation.

The goal of One Health Day is to draw attention to the need for a One Health approach to address shared health threats at the human-animal-environment interface. On that day, One Health Bangladesh and One Health Secretariat jointly organize international conference where scientists presented their study paper and discussed the latest findings and their recommendations. The professionals involved in human, animals and nature health activities in the One Health platform are involved in it; rather physicians, law enforcers, policymakers, politicians, epidemiologists and field level workers are also caught up in the one health approach simultaneously. November 3, 2021, marks the sixth annual One Health Day. This time 50th One Health Day has been observed in the world. Bangladesh also observes the day with rallies, round table discussion with an aim to popularize the concept of one health in Bangladesh. But from the communication point of views, it should not be a yearly one-shot intervention.

To popularize the concept of one health in Bangladesh, awareness intervention should be conducted under a strategic communication plan, which should be implemented as a continuous learning process. Most importantly, since different stakeholders are involved here, developing a comprehensive and well-orchestrated communication plan and implementing that by involving all the partners is a must for achieving the ultimate objective of the One Health Concept. With expertise in communication, BCCP foresees a bright future of the implementation of One Health Concept.