Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum. File photo

DHAKA Jan 29, 2026 (BSS) - Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum has called upon private organizations, particularly NGOs, to increase their activities in the health sector alongside the government to ensure health services reach marginalized communities.

"NGOs are already involved in areas such as maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases, elderly health care, and control of tobacco and tobacco product use. I hope NGOs would continue to work alongside the government to ensure health services reach marginalized communities," she said.

The adviser made these remarks as the chief guest at a views-exchange meeting titled "NGO Engagement in Health Services", held at the conference room of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Bangladesh Secretariat. 

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter and Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Health and Family Welfare Ministry Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman spoke as the special guests with Health Secretary Md Saidur Rahman in the chair.

In her speech, Farida Akhter emphasized the need to train midwives to prevent maternal and child mortality, noting that across the country-especially in rural areas-there is heavy reliance on midwives. 

She also said that focusing solely on environmental movements is not enough; awareness activities to prevent non-communicable diseases must be increased.

Speakers at the meeting stressed the importance of giving attention to mental health and eye health. They also highlighted the need to ensure that fast-food shops are not located near educational institutions. They pointed out that child marriage affects not only girls but also boys, who are being married off at an early age, and emphasized the need to work on this issue as well.

The speakers underscored the necessity of Universal Health Coverage and expressed hope that health service centers would become more patient-friendly. 

At the event, on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, a special honor was awarded to Valerie Ann Taylor, planner and founder of Bangladesh's voluntary physiotherapy organization, the Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP).