Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Water Resources, said that the protection of public health and the prevention of infectious diseases should be focused on the protection of nature, wildlife and the environment. In response to reporters' questions, he said, 'The government wants to protect Saint Martin and the tourism industry together. All necessary steps will be taken on the target, there is no room for confusion. '
The environment advisor said these things in the speech of the chief guest at the event organized at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on the occasion of celebrating 'World One Health Day 2024' on Monday (November 4).
Wildlife cannot speak or fight for their rights, the adviser said. So it is our responsibility to protect their rights and nature.
He also said that peaceful coexistence with nature and wildlife can keep us free from various infectious diseases.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan said, One health concept is an integrated approach, which identifies the common link between human health, animal health and environmental health. Therefore, people should be involved by raising awareness about the interrelationship between them. Various programs have to be implemented on one health concept. He highlighted the importance of implementing a health model through local and international partnerships. He emphasized the need for collective action to achieve this goal.
Speaking as a special guest on the occasion, Farida Akhtar, Advisor to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, said, One Health should not only include the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Health and Family Welfare, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, but other departments including the Ministry of Agriculture and Industry should be included here. The adviser also said that due to the use of pesticides and herbicides in agriculture, the country's agricultural products have become a serious threat to human and animal health. He said, we have increased the production of food products, but we have not given enough importance to the production of safe food. Controlling human, animal and agricultural production through the One Health Approach will protect human health.
Health and Family Welfare Ministry of Health Department Senior Secretary M. A. Akmal Hossain Azad presided over the function.
Dr. Secretary of Medical Education and Family Welfare Department of Health and Family Welfare Ministry. Md. Chief Forest Conservator of Sarwar Bari, Forest Department. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Director General of Health Department Professor Dr. Md. Dr. Abu Zafar, acting representative of the World Health Organization office in Bangladesh. Rajesh Narwal, FAO Representative in Bangladesh Xiaokun Shi, USAID Mission Director in Bangladesh Reid J. Aishliman, National Coordinator of One Health Bangladesh, Professor Dr. Nitish Chandra Debnath and One Health Secretariat Coordinating Committee Chair Professor Dr. Tahmina Shirin and others spoke.
Prizes were distributed among the winners of One Health Competition 2023 and 2024 at the event.
In response to a question from journalists at the end of the event, the advisor said that the government wants to protect Saint Martin and the tourism industry together. All necessary steps will be taken on the target, there is no room for confusion
