A coordination meeting titled “Health Risk Management Due to Climate Change” was held at the conference hall of Karnaphuli Upazila Health Complex in Chattogram on Wednesday (October 29). The event was organized under the Climate Change and Health Project of BRAC Health Program in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination and Aedes-borne Disease Control Program of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and BRAC.

The meeting aimed to raise awareness about the growing health risks associated with climate change and to strengthen preventive measures at the community level.

The discussion was presided over by Dr. Mosammat Jebunnesa, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer of Karnaphuli. Other distinguished participants included Dr. Tasin, Dr. Arifa Sultana, Md. Shahjahan, Officer of the Climate Change and Health Project (Anwara Office), and Md. Khurshid Alam, Program Manager of Typhoid and Malaria (Karnaphuli).

Speakers at the meeting emphasized that climate change is already affecting public health through increased vector-borne diseases, heat-related illnesses, and food- and water-borne infections. They discussed the need for inter-sectoral coordination, enhanced disease surveillance, and public awareness to mitigate these impacts.

Dr. Jebunnesa, in her speech, highlighted that preventive healthcare, early detection, and community awareness are essential to protecting public health in the face of changing weather patterns. She thanked BRAC and the DGHS for their continued support in strengthening local healthcare capacity.

The meeting concluded with a joint commitment from all stakeholders to continue collaborative efforts in ensuring climate-resilient health services in Karnaphuli Upazila.