Safeguarding and Gender in Public Health Research: Reflections from the Field

Abdullah M. Rafi, Samina Huque Read PDF here   Safeguarding has increasingly become a central concern in public health research. At ARK Foundation, we see it not just as a set of rules, but as a commitment to ensuring the safety and dignity of everyone, spanning from researchers to office staff, across every stage of
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How can we bridge the healthcare gap between urban and rural Bangladesh?

Professor Dr. Rumana Huque, Executive Director of ARK Foundation, sheds light on the key prospects and challenges in addressing these inequalities. Discover her insights on how we can work together to bridge the gap and ensure equitable healthcare for all.
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#ARKPodcast: From Ideas to Impact: The Innovation Fund Story

We’re excited to bring you the latest episode of the ARK Podcast! Join our host Abdullah M. Rafi as he sits down with Mr. Badruddin Saify, Research Associate at ARK, to talk about his inspiring Innovation Fund journey – early challenges, key learnings, and the drive to make research impactful.  Tune in for insights, reflections,
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Webinar on Tobacco Cessation in Health Systems: Policy, Research & Reality

Experts Urge Stronger Tobacco Cessation Services in Bangladesh’s Health System ARK Foundation hosted a webinar titled “Tobacco Cessation in Health Systems: Policy, Research & Reality”, bringing together experts and participants from academia, advocacy groups, and research organizations, including international researchers. The event explored the status, challenges, and opportunities for integrating tobacco cessation into Bangladesh’s health
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Harnessing mHealth to End TB: A Digital Prescription for a Persistent Challenge

Abdullah Muhammad Rafi, Shakhawat Hossain Rana Read PDF here Let’s start the story with a few numbers. First of all, every year, 379,000 people in Bangladesh are newly affected by Tuberculosis, that’s more than 1,000 cases a day, and out of the almost four hundred thousand patients, more than 44,000 people die each year. Imagine
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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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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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Chief Health Officer of DNCC, Brig. Gen. Imru-al-Qayes shares insights on the limitations of UPHCSDP

As the Urban Primary Health Care Services Delivery Project (UPHCSDP) nears its conclusion in 2025, significant challenges remain in ensuring healthcare for all. With 50% of Dhaka’s population still without adequate coverage, what’s next? Chief Health Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation, Brigadier General Imru-al-Qayes, shares critical insights on the limitations of UPHCSDP and the
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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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