Professor Md Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Health and Family Welfare, has urged the global community to boost investment in universal health coverage, with a focus on youth-oriented initiatives.

While delivering Bangladesh’s national statement at the 58th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD58) at the United Nations Headquarters on April 7, Prof Rahman underscored the importance of inclusive healthcare strategies, according to an official release received Tuesday (April 8).

He advocated for the adoption of social business models that reinvest profits into healthcare expansion, innovation in service delivery, and community empowerment. 

Such models, he said, can be instrumental in bridging access gaps and enhancing overall well-being.

Reaffirming Bangladesh's dedication to international cooperation, Prof Rahman noted the country's active role as a former Chair and current member of the UNFPA Executive Board. 

He emphasized Bangladesh's readiness to share its experience in advancing maternal health, promoting gender equality, and developing climate-resilient health systems.

At a high-level UNFPA side event titled "Improving Health and Well-being for Women and Newborns," Prof Rahman highlighted the pivotal role of midwives in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality. 

He reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to scaling up midwifery education and training and to creating new positions to accelerate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He noted that Bangladesh currently employs around 3,000 professional midwives, with efforts underway to significantly increase that number.

Prof Rahman is currently in New York for the CPD58 session, taking place from April 7 to 11. The Bangladeshi delegation also includes Dr Sarwar Bari, Secretary of the Medical Education and Family Welfare Division, and Shireen Parvin Huq, Chair of the Women Affairs Reforms Commission.

BDST: 1400 HRS, APR 08, 2025
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