A second “Stakeholders’ Consultation on the WHO- Bangladesh Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS), 2008–2013” took place on the 17th of April 2007 in Dhaka. This event was the follow-up to the first stakeholders’ consultation that WHO organized in December 2006 to obtain views on future priorities for improved engagement of WHO in Bangladesh. Taking into account the recommendations from the December 2006 Stakeholders’ consultation, the first draft of the CCS documents was prepared and circulated to the participants. The draft CCS was carefully reviewed during the second Consultation.

The WHO CCS document constitutes the framework for WHO cooperation in and with the country, highlighting what WHO will do, how it will do it, and with whom. It attempts to match the WHO mandate with the national health priorities. The document identifies priority areas and strategic directions for WHO engagement to complement the Government’s efforts aimed at improving the nation’s health development in the coming years.

Stakeholders of various organizations including officials from GoB, NGOs, the private sector, development partners, professional bodies and the academia took part in the discussions.

The Consultation was chaired by Mr Ehsan Ul Fattah, Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. In his opening remarks, the Secretary observed that “it was gratifying to note that our collaborative efforts with all stakeholders and partners, including the WHO, have made it possible to reap major gains in the health sector. Important strides have been made toward reaching the MDG health targets. These gains have to be consolidated and improved further.” He went on to say “Despite these improvements, the country still faces uphill challenges in some areas of health development, more so with such areas as dealing effectively with new, emerging and re-emerging problems such the avian influenza.”

Dr Mark Brooks, of WHO-SEARO, New Delhi, presented the global and regional perspective of the CCS. Cluster-wise presentations from the WHO Country Office were followed by discussions, and recommendations from the stakeholders.

Dr Duangvadee Sungkhobol, WHO Representative to Bangladesh, responded to the recommendations made, adding that this very effective consultation will help to finalize the WHO Country Cooperation Strategy in a more realistic manner.

The Secretary, MoHFW concluded by stating that the “valuable recommendations of the participants will provide solid groundwork and input, to enable WHO to further improve the CCS document. Given this positive scenario, I firmly hope that WHO can consolidate and continue to support our development efforts in the HNP sector in Bangladesh. I trust that as a result of this Consultation, we will have a very useful Country Cooperation Strategy document that will provide clear directions how WHO could best support the Government of Bangladesh. I am looking forward to working together to quickly implement these CCS strategies, to advance the noble cause of improving the health of the people of this country.”