How Active are the Residents of Dhaka? Perceptions and Challenges in Maintaining Physical Activity in Urban Bangladesh

By Umme Salma Anee, CHORUS Research Assistant, ARK Foundation To implement a CHORUS Innovation Fund project in Bangladesh, the team at ARK Foundation has been working with a diverse range of stakeholders, including policy makers, community leaders, teachers, Imams, youth groups, adolescents, guardians, pregnant women, elderly women, and people with physical challenges, to address barriers
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Piloting Antimicrobial Stewardship in Different Tiers of Hospitals in Two Districts of Bangladesh to Reduce Antimicrobial Use in Healthcare facilities

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is rising rapidly in Bangladesh, posing a serious threat to healthcare. To address this challenge, ARK Foundation, with support from CDC-DGHS and WHO Bangladesh, is piloting an Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) initiative at primary, secondary, and tertiary facilities in Cumilla and Dinajpur districts. The project started with a national-level inception meeting, followed by
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Smoking Cessation Intervention for Severe Mental Ill Health- South Asia (SCIMITAR-SA)

Mental disorders are a major contributor to the global disease burden, ranking among the top 10 causes of health loss. Individuals with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) (Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective disorder, Psychosis, Bipolar illness and Severe Depression with psychosis) are among the most vulnerable population groups facing health disparities, increased risk of physical multimorbidity, higher mortality, shorter life expectancy
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Tobacco Free Cities (TFC)

The ARK Foundation conducts on-demand research and training in the areas of health, education, and social development. The ARK Foundation’s mission is to ensure sustainable development through research-based solutions, training and promotion in the areas of health, nutrition, population, education, gender, environment and human resource development. In collaboration with the ARK Foundation, the University of
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Roundtable on ‘Health Budget FY2025-26: Expectations and Realities’

PDF Version The health sector is facing major budgetary challenges due to flawed preparation processes that fail to identify priorities, leading to insufficient fund allocation and poor utilization, experts said. They also said there is a lack of managerial efficiency, as well, in implementing health budget. these insights were shared at a roundtable discussion titled
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Low budget or management flaws? Experts flag inefficiency in health spending

PDF Version Highlights: Flawed preparation blamed for failing to identify priorities Despite potential, primary healthcare underfunded Managerial inefficiency hampers fund utilisation NCDs underprioritised despite rising deaths Women, child health budget cut again Need skilled managers, better planning Private sector unregulated, inequitable care Budget usually slashed significantly in revisions The health sector is facing major budgetary
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Strengthening urban health systems through public-private partnership: Lessons from four countries

Due to the rapid increase in the urban population, public sector health services in urban settings are under strain. There are limited accessible and available health facilities with insufficient medicines and supplies and inadequate health workers with training appropriate to the changing disease burden in the public health system. Over time, these gaps in the
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Policy Dialogue Synthesis Report

  The Community-led Responsive and Effective Urban Health System (CHORUS) is a research programme consortium that unites health researchers from Africa, South Asia, and the UK. It collaborates with communities, health professionals, and city-level decision-makers to develop and test strategies aimed at improving the health of the poorest urban residents. CHORUS and ARK Foundation hosted
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Report: Policy Dialogue on Strengthening Urban Health Systems: Challenges & Prospects

The Community-led Responsive and Effective Urban Health System (CHORUS) is a Research Programme Consortium that brings together health researchers from Africa, South Asia, and the UK. CHORUS collaborates with communities, health professionals, and city-level decision makers to develop and test strategies for improving the health of the poorest urban residents. As part of its ongoing
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Between Progress and Pitfalls: Fixing Bangladesh’s Urban Health Crisis

 By Abdullah M. Rafi (published in The Business Standard on 15 May, 2025) Bangladesh, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world according to the World Bank, has identified health as both a priority and a persistent challenge. Article 15(a) of the country’s constitution reflects this commitment by guaranteeing healthcare as a fundamental right for
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