DHAKA, Oct 14, 2023 (BSS) - Planning Minister MA Mannan today said that research-based knowledge is an invaluable resource for effective policy development in public health systems.

"Data obtained through scientific research helps in making sound decisions while adopting effective policies... Public health research also continues to make a valuable contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals," he said.

The planning minister said this at a function organized to mark the 10th anniversary of ARK Foundation held at a city hotel.

Mannan said the ARK Foundation is effectively supporting the government in adopting timely policies and achieving sustainable development goals by conducting public health research.

He said, "We've to work together to achieve sustainable development goals under the leadership of the Honorable Prime Minister."

The minister said ARK Foundation is playing a crucial role in advancing government initiatives to achieve Vision 2041 as well as achieving Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals through research activities.

At the beginning of this session, Mannan unveiled the new logo of ARK Foundation and celebrated the organization's 10th anniversary by cutting a cake.

In the opening speech of the programme, the executive director of ARK Foundation, Professor Dr. Rumana Huque, stated that, as a research-based private organization, ARK Foundation is conducting various research programs on primary health care, development of urban health systems, control of communicable and non-communicable diseases, financial management for public health development, tobacco control, advocacy for determining public health policies, and raising public awareness.

 Through this, ARK Foundation has tried to identify the areas of public health development as well as provide contemporary and innovative solutions.

The Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS) President, National Professor A K Azad Khan, and Senior Director of the Infectious Diseases Department of ICDDR, B, Ferdowsi Qadri, were present as special guests at the event alongside the Vice-Chancellor of Sylhet Medical University Professor Dr. AHM Enayet Hussain.

Speakers at the event mentioned that research-based institutions like the ARK Foundation are playing a significant role in the development of the country; and that is why the government is working jointly with such institutions.

Since research is a catalyst for positive change and the necessity of research-based knowledge to adopt effective and useful policies is undeniable, the government should be more focused on supporting the necessary research and allocating an adequate budget for the research.

A policy dialogue on addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) was held on the occasion of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Hossain Ali Khondoker, Coordinator (Additional Secretary), National Tobacco Control Cell was also present. Other attendees included Prof Dr. Mohammad Robed Amin, Line Director of Non-Communicable Disease Control, Directorate General of Health Service, A. H. M. Noman Khan, Professor and Executive Director of the Centre for Disability in Development, Rashid Zaman, Health Consultant of Dhaka, British High Commission, and Dr. Halida Hanum Akhter, Reproductive Health Epidemiologist, John Hopkins University.

As panelists in the policy dialogue, Dr. Ahmedul Kabir, Additional Director, Directorate General of Health Services, and Md. Abdur Rahman Khan, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Finance were present.

Officials of various government institutions, public health experts, tobacco control experts, media representatives, and representatives of various public and private institutions were also present at the event.