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Workshop on Indoor Air Pollution held
The World Health Organization
(WHO), Bangladesh and German Technical Cooperation (GTZ)
jointly organized a 3-day long workshop on Indoor
Air Pollution (IAP) held during 15-17 June 2009 at
Dhaka Sheraton Hotel. The workshop focused on health
impacts of IAP, reviewed experiences of
interventions, explored linkages with climate change
and broader development issues. The WHO model
country action plan on household energy and health
was also reviewed in the workshop.
Prof. Dr. A. F. M. Ruhal Haque, MP, Honourable
Minister for Health and Family Welfare inaugurated
the workshop as chief guest. While Mr. Shaikh Altaf
Ali, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare chaired the opening session of the workshop.
Dr. Andrew Trevett Acting WHO Country Representative
was present as special guest. Mr. Otto Gomm of GTZ
delivered the welcome speech. Key note paper was
presented by Dr Joseph Graziano, Associate Dean for
Research, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia
University, USA.
Several
National NGOs including ICDDR,B and participants
from regional countries like Indonesia and Nepal
attended the workshop, contributed from their
country experiences and shared views on health
impact of IAP. A team of Environmental Health
Scientist from the Colombia University, USA
presented resent study findings on health impact of
IAP.
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Share information, experience and knowledge about
ongoing research and interventions to address IAP
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Discuss and examine linkages of IAP beyond health
impacts and particularly those that relate to
climate change, and achievement of MDGs
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Become familiar with some of the IAP interventions
being promoted in Bangladesh
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Critically review and revise WHO's model country
action plan on household energy and health
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Have opportunity to strengthen national and
international networking on IAP and related health
and development issues
The key note speaker informed that the indoor
combustion of biomass in Bangladesh is a major
contributor to morbidity and mortality, particularly
in women and young children. He further stated that,
roughly 4% of the national burden of disease in
Bangladesh is attributable to indoor smoke. The key
note speaker showed a linkage between MDG and health
impact of IAP e.g. MDG 4 strives to reduce mortality
in children under five years of age and MDG 5 aims
to improve maternal health. Unfortunately both
mother and children are affected by adverse health
effect of IAP. He further stated that research
clearly demonstrates a strong link between family
income and access to clean energy sources which is
relevant to MDG 1.
The participants recommended that new investments
and research are needed on health impact of IAP to
improve the health status of women and children and
decrease the rate of climate change. They further
emphasise on strengthening network between Asian
Regional Environmental Cooperation (ARECOP) in this
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