International symposium on Community Health Workers (CHWs) to begin from November 22

The 2nd international symposium on Community Health Workers (CHWs) will be organised by International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B).

ICDDR,B will organize the even in collaboration with Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Government of Bangladesh; James P. Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH) and Save the Children, Bangladesh.

The symposium will take place from November 22 to November 24 at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon in Dhaka. This year's theme is titled, 'Potentials of CHW in Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the Context of Universal Health Coverage (UHC)', said the organisers.   

About 500 participants from more than 35 countries have registered for the event. The symposium will offer practical knowledge and experience about CHWs related policy and programmes. 232 abstracts have been received and 141 were selected for oral and poster presentation. 20 young participants from LMICs are to get scholarship based on the merit of their abstract.

Prof. Dr. Nasima Sultana, Additional Director General (Admin), DGHS, said, "The community health workers are unsung heroes and have been a powerful workforce in promoting health services around the world. Informally originated in China in the 1920s, they were initially engaged in birth and death registration, vaccination, providing basic health education and first-aid services. Presently, the CHWs are considered as 'alternative solutions' and has received increased attention in many LMICs including Bangladesh."

Prof. Dr. Md. Abul Hashem Khan, Line Director, Community Based Health Care (CBHC), DGHS, MOHFW, Professor Dr. Sabina Faiz Rashid, Dean JPGSPH, and Dr. Farzana Islam, Project Director, Save the Children, Bangladesh and Dr. Samir Kanti Sarker, Ex- Line Director, DGHS were also present at the press conference.