UK’s Minister of State for International Development impressed by impact of ICDDR,B’s research and services

Alan Duncan MP, the UK’s Minister of State for International Development visited ICDDR,B on 20 June 2011 as  part of a three-day official visit to Bangladesh. Mr Duncan was particularly interested in ICDDR,B due to the long standing relationship between the institution and UKAid, one of its core donors. Of particular interest to Mr Duncan were ICDDR,B’s research priorities, which overlap with those of the UK’s coalition government in the areas of emergency response, nutrition, malaria, water & sanitation, and sexual & reproductive health.

On his arrival Mr Duncan was welcomed by ICDDR,B Executive Director Dr Alejandro Cravioto, and members of senior management. Mr Duncan toured the Dhaka Hospital facilities and was much impressed by the care and services provided to the patients. Dr Mark Pietroni, Medical Director, introduced Mr Duncan to members of ICDDR,B’s emergency response team, some of whom had travelled to Haiti during the 2010 cholera outbreak. Mr Duncan heard from Dr Azharul Islam Khan, Head of the Emergency and Short Stay Ward, and Senior Nurses Momtaz Begum and Cathrine Costa of their experiences in Haiti. Mr Duncan also visited the Intensive Care Unit where Dr Bardhan explained how patients are treated for pneumonia and other complications. Mr Duncan also visited the Jagori Unit, where patients are treated for complications related to HIV. Dr Nasha Matin, Head of the unit, explained to Mr Duncan how HIV is rising in Bangladesh and the contributions ICDDR,B has made towards policy-level decision making.

While visiting the Nutrition Rehabilitation Unit, Mr Duncan heard from Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, Head of the Nutrition Programme, how ICDDR,B’s evidence-generation has influenced Bangladesh’s 5-year national nutrition plan. Dr Ahmed also explained to Mr Duncan how ICDDR,B also approaches challenges of malnutrition through innovative partnerships in a bio-fortified rice project.

During his visit Mr Duncan met with project staff of the ‘Introducing cholera vaccine in Bangladesh’ project and saw a demonstration on water and sanitation interventions, given by Dr Stephen P. Luby, Head of Programmes for Infectious Disease & Vaccine Sciences. Mr Duncan also visited the Laboratory Sciences Division and met with scientists undertaking research on nutritional biochemistry, environmental microbiology and malaria/parasitology.

At the end of his visit Mr Duncan stated how impressed he was with the level of impact that ICDDR,B’s services and research activities has on people’s lives.