Health Secretary Calls for Collective Action to Strengthen Eye Health Services in Bangladesh

The Health Service Division reaffirmed its strong commitment to elevating eye health as a national socio-economic priority during a two-day residential workshop held on 17–18 October 2025. Organised jointly by UNDP Bangladesh, The Fred Hollows Foundation, and the Health Services Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in partnership with Sightsavers and Helen Keller International under the project "Bangladesh In Sight: System Leadership Approach to Eye Health," the workshop focused on developing an Action Plan for the Multisectoral National Platform on Eye Health.

Experts emphasised that eye health is not merely a medical concern but a key driver of education, employment, and economic productivity, directly impacting the lives and livelihoods of millions, particularly marginalised and vulnerable communities. The Multisectoral Platform, chaired by the Health Services Division, is a strategic initiative aimed at aligning efforts across ministries, including Education, Agriculture, Social Welfare, and Industry, to prevent avoidable blindness and ensure equitable access to eye care services nationwide.

The closing session was graced by Md. Saidur Rahman, Honourable Secretary, Health Services Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Prof. Dr. Md. Abu Jafor, Director General, DGHS; and Md. Mohsin, Joint Secretary & Chair of the Multisectoral National Platform on Eye Health. In his address, Secretary Saidur Rahman stressed collective responsibility and proposed convening a high-level inter-ministerial meeting to finalise and operationalise the Action Plan, calling for "unified leadership from all sectors to ensure no one is left behind in accessing quality eye care."

The workshop brought together more than 40 representatives from 12 government ministries, INGO Forum on Eye Health members, international and national development partners, private sector institutions, academia, and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs). Participants engaged in structured group exercises to identify strategic interventions across prevention, service delivery, financing, governance, disability inclusion, and private sector engagement. The result was a draft three-year Action Plan to guide coordinated implementation at national and local levels.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Md. Jane Alam Mridha, Director of the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital (NIOH), who highlighted the urgent need to integrate eye health within the broader public health and socio-economic development agenda. Dr. Munir Ahmed, Country Director of ORBIS International in Bangladesh, presented on the global eye health situation and highlighted emerging needs for comprehensive eye care. A panel discussion, moderated by Mr. Tanvir Mahmud, Senior Governance Specialist of UNDP Bangladesh, featuring national experts, further underscored the importance of a system leadership approach to address challenges and unlock opportunities for transformative impact.

Opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Musabbir Alam, Cluster Director – Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Myanmar, The Fred Hollows Foundation; Ms. Amrita Regina Rozario, Country Director, Sightsavers & Chair, INGO Forum on Eye Health; and Mr. Tanvir Mahmud, Senior Governance Specialist, UNDP Bangladesh. Speakers emphasised the importance of joint leadership, systems thinking, and inclusive policies to ensure eye health services reach underserved populations across the country.

This workshop marks a pivotal moment in accelerating Bangladesh's journey toward Universal Health Coverage and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by eliminating avoidable blindness and ensuring inclusive, people-centred eye care for all.