Dhaka, 22 October 2025 — The World Health Organization (WHO) and Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices, reinforcing Bangladesh’s commitment to delivering safer, higher-quality healthcare.
Bangladesh has made significant progress in strengthening IPC in recent years, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. With technical support from WHO, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has developed a National IPC Guideline and established IPC committees in numerous public hospitals.
However, implementation remains uneven, particularly at the district and upazila levels. Many facilities continue to face challenges, including inadequate infrastructure for hand hygiene, waste management, and isolation, as well as limited numbers of trained IPC personnel and irregular supervision.
To address these gaps, WHO and the Government of Bangladesh are collaborating to institutionalize multimodal IPC programmes that integrate policy development, training, monitoring, and behaviour change approaches. Efforts are also underway to strengthen surveillance systems for healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance.
Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), an apex medical university and tertiary-level health facility, is now taking a leadership role in developing model IPC practices, training healthcare workers, and advancing IPC research, contributing to a safer and more resilient national health system.
A Strategic Partnership for IPC Excellence
The MoU was signed by Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam, Honorable Vice-Chancellor of BMU, and Dr. Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed, WHO Representative to Bangladesh. This one-year agreement represents a significant step toward establishing BMU as a Centre of Excellence in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). The overarching objective of the MoU is to strengthen BMU’s IPC system through technical collaboration with WHO. Specifically, WHO will provide comprehensive technical support, including planning, baseline assessments, training, and monitoring, to facilitate the implementation of a multimodal IPC strategy at BMU. BMU, in turn, will allocate financial, human, and logistical resources to operationalize IPC activities, ensuring that practices such as hand hygiene, environmental sanitation, and antimicrobial stewardship are embedded into hospital systems and integrated into medical curricula.
Shared Commitment to Patient Safety and Quality Care
Speaking at the event, Dr. Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed, WHO Representative to Bangladesh, commended BMU’s leadership and vision in advancing healthcare quality.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to making BMU a Centre of Excellence for Infection Prevention and Control, one that inspires the broader health system of Bangladesh,” said Dr. Jamsheed. “WHO will continue to provide technical support, drawing on regional and global expertise, to make this vision a reality.”
Dr. Jamsheed emphasized the critical role of teamwork, motivated and dedicated health workers, capacity building, institutional commitment, and strong leadership in improving patient care and driving innovation in health system strengthening. While faculty members expressed concern about the ongoing dengue situation, he highlighted opportunities for shared learning from WHO’s regional collaborations, including best practices from Sri Lanka’s dengue management programme, which could benefit BMU and Bangladesh.
He further reiterated WHO’s readiness to provide all necessary technical assistance to BMU in implementing IPC activities and enhancing service quality, supporting the university’s evolution into a national Centre of Excellence.
A Vision for Sustainable Health System Strengthening
In his remarks, Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam, Vice-Chancellor of BMU, expressed appreciation for WHO’s collaboration and reaffirmed BMU’s commitment to advancing IPC and antimicrobial stewardship for responsible antibiotic use.
“Through this partnership, BMU aims to set a benchmark for infection prevention and control in Bangladesh,” said Professor Alam. “Together with WHO, we will foster a culture of safety, innovation, and excellence that can guide other institutions across the country.”
He highlighted that BMU has already taken proactive measures to strengthen IPC, including the establishment of a high-level IPC Committee and a dedicated annual budget for IPC activities. He also noted the university’s ongoing contributions to improving the quality of higher medical education and healthcare, with notable advancements in cancer treatment, transplant services, neonatal intensive care, and research.
The MoU—effective from 22 October 2025 to 22 October 2026—marks a significant milestone in WHO–Bangladesh collaboration. The initiative is expected to strengthen institutional IPC capacity, enhance patient safety, and reduce healthcare-associated infections, contributing to a stronger and more resilient national health system. Dr. Murad Sultan, WHO’s IPC focal point for this initiative, will coordinate technical support from WHO to ensure alignment with national standards and global best practices.
/countries/bangladesh/who-and-bmu-discussing-ipc-strengthening-plan.jpg?sfvrsn=6061e455_3 "WHO and BMU discussing IPC strengthening plan")
Photo Credit: WHO/Dr Murad Sultan.