Utilisation and Effectiveness of Women Friendly Hospital Initiative: Problems, Prospects and Way Forward

/ Published in Gender Equity and Social Inclusion, Our Work
The Women Friendly Hospital Initiative (WFHI) was launched in Bangladesh in 1998 with the goal of improving the quality of healthcare and addressing the needs of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. The initiative aimed to reduce maternal mortality, fight against violence, and eliminate discrimination against women. It focuses on creating environment for women to

Understanding the ‘Overlapping’ Risks of Climate Change and Urbanisation

/ Published in Climate Change and Environment, Our Work
In the era of climate change, growing inequality, rapid urbanisation, humanity is dealing with a complex knot of apparently separate but actually deeply entangled risks. If not addressed the risk synchronisation can lead to critical crises and eventually will overwhelm the societal capacity to adapt. These overlapping risks (OR) have differential impact across gender. Decision

Fiscal and Regulatory Mechanisms for Promoting Healthy Diets in Bangladesh

/ Published in Nutrition, Our Work
Diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) continue to rise in Bangladesh, disproportionately affecting women, children, and the poor. The complex interaction of the fresh food supply chain, price drivers, competition from low-cost and low-nutrition products, and cultural influences affect access to consuming a healthy diet. This project aimed to review how fiscal and regulatory measures can be

Community-led Responsive and Effective Urban Health Systems (CHORUS)

/ Published in Featured, Health Systems, Our Work
CHORUS is a Research Programme Consortium that brings together health researchers from South Asia, West Africa, and the UK. CHORUS works with communities, health professionals and city level decision makers to strengthen the urban health system, especially for the urban poor. ARK Foundation is currently implementing three projects under CHORUS. Project 1 aims to strengthen

A Multicomponent Intervention to Reduce Home-Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke (SHS) During Pregnancy and Postnatal Period (IMPRESS)

/ Published in Featured, Maternal Newborn Child and Reproductive Health, Our Work
The IMPRESS was a pilot trial of a multi-component intervention which aimed to culturally adapt, and then evaluate, the effectiveness of evidence-based strategies to reduce second-hand smoking within homes in the peri-urban area of Bangladesh. It also aimed to determine the costs versus benefits of implementing such an intervention. The study was carried out in

Community Engagement for Tackling Anti-microbial Resistance (CE4AMR)

/ Published in Antimicrobial Resistance, Our Work
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health concern that requires a multidisciplinary approach. Community engagement (CE) has been recognized as a crucial strategy for addressing AMR, as it involves the active participation of community stakeholders in identifying and implementing sustainable interventions. However, there is a need to understand how CE approaches are currently utilised in

Community Solution to Antimicrobial Resistance (COSTAR)

/ Published in Antimicrobial Resistance, Featured, Our Work
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing threat to global health, food sustainability, and socio-economic development. It is estimated that AMR infections cause approximately 700,000 human deaths each year globally and this figure is set to rise to 10 million by 2050 if no action is taken. Multi-sectoral action that addresses human and animal health, agriculture,

Improving Outcomes in Mental and Physical Multimorbidity and Developing Research Capacity (IMPACT) in South Asia at the University of York

/ Published in Featured, Multimorbidity, Our Work
People with severe mental illness (SMI; i.e. schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and severe depression with psychosis) die on average 10-20 years earlier than the general population. Around 80% of deaths in people with SMI are due to preventable physical illnesses, most commonly cardio-metabolic diseases, respiratory disorders, and infectious diseases. Comorbidity of physical and mental illness

Children Learning About Second-Hand Smoke (CLASS-III): A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial of a School-Based Smoke-Free Intervention

/ Published in Featured, Non-Communicable Disease, Our Work
Children Learning About Second-hand Smoke (CLASS-III) is an ongoing multinational cRCT project of ARK Foundation in collaboration with the University of York, United Kingdom. The project aims to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of school-based Smoke-Free Intervention (SFI) in reducing children’s exposure to second-hand smoking (SHS) and the frequency and severity of respiratory symptoms. The

Developing a Psycho-Social Support (PSS) Intervention for People with Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and Com-Morbid Depression in Bangladesh: A Feasibility Study

/ Published in Communicable Disease, Featured, Our Work
This study aimed to develop an acceptable and feasible psycho-social support (PSS) package that will be ready to embed within the existing National TB Control Programme (NTP) service delivery system in Bangladesh. Our specific objectives were to assess the existing MDR-TB services, exploring the facilitators and barriers in the current service provision for mental health