The issue of public health will be included in the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Suber Hossain Chowdhury said.
“Public health has not been highlighted in 113 agendas of the existing NAP. Floods, cyclones, rising sea levels, salinity, food insecurity, shortage of drinking water, environmental pollution and other issues have significant impacts on public health,” he said during a meeting with Dr Daniel Novak, chairman of the climate, health and environment group and first secretary (health)at Swedish Embassy in Dhaka on Tuesday (16 April).
“There is a relationship between public health and the environment. Therefore, the environment and health need to be protected in parallel with the country’s development,” Saber said.
Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed and the Swedish Embassy’s deputy head of development, cooperation, environment and climate change, Naioka Martines-Backstrom also present at the time.
