Hospital-acquired infections are a major challenge in Bangladesh, impacting patient safety and increasing costs. To address this, WHO is collaborating with Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) to establish a sustainable, high-quality IPC system, aiming to make BMU a national model for other healthcare institutions across the country.
The kickoff meeting was held on 8 July 2025 at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), led by Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam. The meeting brought together BMU’s senior leadership and a WHO delegation, headed by Ms. Sangay Wangmo, Team Lead, Health Systems Unit in WHO Bangladesh. During the meeting, WHO Bangladesh and BMU outlined an action plan to effectively implement IPC strategies across BMU’s hospitals and laboratories.
WHO emphasized its technical commitment to transforming BMU into a benchmark institution by focusing on key areas such as physician practices, patient safety, hospital hygiene, healthcare waste management, immunization programs, and comprehensive awareness and training initiatives. The goal is to build a practical IPC framework that fosters both behavioral change and skill development among healthcare workers, ultimately enhancing patient safety. This will be followed by a formal agreement between the WHO Representative to Bangladesh and the Vice Chancellor of BMU, demonstrating a strong commitment to this important initiative
Hospital-acquired infections represent one of the most pressing global health challenges. In Bangladesh alone, thousands of patients contract infections during hospital stays, many of which could be prevented through improved IPC measures. Experts agree that the BMU-WHO partnership marks a groundbreaking step toward strengthening infection control across the nation’s healthcare system.
“If BMU successfully establishes itself as a national model, it will serve as a blueprint for other medical colleges, hospitals, and health centers, accelerating effective IPC implementation countrywide,” said Dr Murad Sultan, NPO – Patient safety and blood safety, WHO Bangladesh.
Expressing his vision for the initiative, BMU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam stated,
“We do not just want to follow infection prevention guidelines—we aim to become a guiding institution ourselves. With WHO’s support, we will elevate our hospitals and laboratories to international standards, ensuring safer and more reliable healthcare for our people.”
He added, “This support from WHO is not merely about developing one university or hospital, it marks a turning point in the country’s infection prevention and management system. If successful, this initiative will open a new horizon in the quality of healthcare in Bangladesh, where every hospital becomes safe, clean, and patient-friendly.”
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The meeting was attended by prominent BMU faculty members, including Professor Dr. Md. Atikul Haque, Chair of the Department of Public Health and Informatics, Professor Dr. Md. Abdus Shakur, Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; and Brigadier General Abu Noman Mohammad Mosleh Uddin, Director (Hospital). Representing WHO were Ms. Sangay Wangmo, Team Lead of the Health Systems Unit, and Dr. Murad Sultan, National Professional Officer of patient safety & blood safety.
This initiative marks a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s fight against hospital-acquired infections, combining WHO’s normative technical support with BMU’s commitment to fund implementation. It reflects a sustainable and collaborative approach with the potential to save countless lives and elevate the quality of healthcare across the country.
For more information on this publication
Please contact Salma Sultana,
NPO - Communications & Media
ssultana@who.int
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