The experts also said people will be able to identify and understand their problems and build their capacity to address those issues if different projects on people's participation in health specially community based health care programmes are introduced.

Plan Bangladesh in association with Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) organised the seminar on 'People's Participation In Health' at the Brac centre in the city where representatives from India, Malaysia, Philippines, Pakistan, Brac, ICDDR,B, German Red Crescent Bangladesh and other development agencies shared their experience on community participation in health care.

Participants also said time has come to change the traditional strategy of top to bottom because health services for all will not be ensured without creating health awareness among the people.

Secretary to Health & Family Welfare Ministry Ehsan Ul Fattah said country's health sector continues to face a number of challenges but it will be easy to overcome the barriers if people's participation is ensured.

"Only the government cannot take health services to the poor people in the society. United efforts of NGOs and donor agencies are required to improve the quality and deliver essential health care services to people," Fattah said while addressing as a chief guest at the seminar.

Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Barbara Richardson said impressive changes have taken place in Bangladesh in improving health situation of the population but still a large number of people have limited access to health care.

She also said CIDA will assist Bangladesh in improving people's health status through strengthening the capacity of the national health system and increasing access to those services especially for women and children.

Edward Thomas Espey, country director of Plan Bangladesh, said Plan has been implementing community health care programme titled Community Managed Health Care (CMHC) in 11 districts for the last five years with support of CIDA, Gonoshasthya Kendra, Lutheran Aid to Medicine, Dusthya Shasthya Kendra and Bangladesh government.

Robert Chambers presented the keynote paper at the seminar where Plan Communication Specialist Paul Subrata Malakar, Project Director Dr Wahidul Islam and Health Adviser Dr Selina Amin also took part.