New UHC Forum launch

A new UHC Forum with the motto “Empowering Progress, Engaging Communities, Transforming Health” was launched at the CIRDAP Auditorium with a cross-section of health-focused professionals and activists.

The Forum aims to build momentum for accelerated realization of the key SDG target of UHC and well-being through targeted action plans and community engagement.

The Public Dialogue, hosted by the research institute PPRC, featured Hossein Zillur Rahman as the keynote speaker and moderator. Panelists included Dr. Aminul Hasan, Quality Care Concern, Professor Syed Abdul Hamid, Professor M.A. Faiz, A.M.M. Nasir Uddin, Dr. Liakat Ali, Dr. Abu Jamil Faisal, Dr Rumana Huque, and Professor Khondokar A. Mamun who outlined the platform's formation, objectives and .agenda.

An engaging open discussion saw inputs from Dr. Halida Hanum, SHPL; Shukumar Sarkar, former USAID; Dr Sohana Shafiq, icddrb; Dr. Iqbal Anwar, former icddrb, Kishwar Imdad, Marie Stopes, Bachera Akhter, BRAC-JPG; Tapan Kumar Nath, former civil servant; Fouzia Nasrin, USAID; Imran Ahmed Choudhury, BRAC, Mohan Raihan, Poet and Healthy life activist.

All participants welcomed the platform launch and expressed willingness to engage in platform activities. A total of 55 participants, including media members, attended the dialogue.

In his concluding remarks, forum moderator and PPRC chairman Hossein Zillur Rahman outlined three priority areas for the UHC Forum. Firstly, progress monitoring on UHC through real-time data and indicators.

A UHC Data Conference is envisaged for 2024. Secondly, building momentum on health sector reforms through politically intelligent advocacy and targeted engagement with key policy-makers; and thirdly, building a social movement for expanding health-conscious lifestyles and health literacy, particularly at the grassroots level, secondary towns, and in schools.

Early priority actions envisaged are targeted dialogues with specific proposals with the new health and local government ministers before Ramadan. Dr. Rahman also called for engaging the private sector in health sector dialogue.

The Forum will have a core steering group drawn from the panellists and other relevant stakeholders and will be led by Hossain Zillur Rahman.

The Forum will be open to general membership, whose procedures will be shared through a dedicated website already developed for the purpose.

Specific activities will be led by thematic task forces under designated coordinators.