Dhaka to get US health aid

23 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Metro Desk

The US has selected Bangladesh as one of the eight 'Global Health Initiative (GHI) Plus' countries. As part of this global initiative, the US is investing $63 billion over six years to help partner countries improve health outcomes through strengthened health systems -- with a particular focus on improving the health of women, newborns and children by providing quality health services and combating infectious diseases. The other seven countries are Ethiopia, Guatemala, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nepal, and Rwanda. As a GHI plus country, Bangladesh will receive additional technical and management resources to quickly implement GHI's approach, including programmes and investments in HIV/AIDS prevention, malaria, tuberculosis, maternal and child health, nutrition, family planning and reproductive health. A joint press release by the US Department of State, US Agency for International Development (USAID) and US Department of Health and Human Services released this information. In Bangladesh, the US government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Department of Defense (DoD) will work with the government of Bangladesh and will assist NGOs and private sector to address critical health problems and provide support to achieve the national Millennium Development Goals.