Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, with rising sea levels, increased frequency and intensity of cyclones, floods, and droughts, all of which have significant impacts on health outcomes.

Climate Change and Health Promotion Unit (CCHPU) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been working dedicatedly on climate change and health issues under the leadership of the Additional Secretary (PH) since 2010. The coordinator of the unit is a technical person with doctoral degree in climate change and health. CCHPU has good track record of working closely with the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Bangladesh Climate Change Trust along with some reputed developmental international organizations (WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA etc.). Besides Dhaka University, this unit also has collaborations with different world class universities including Newcastle University, University of California San Francisco, etc.

The unit’s work includes research on the relationship between climate change and health, developing public health campaigns to raise awareness of climate change impacts, and implementing interventions to prevent and mitigate the health impacts of climate change. It also works to build the capacity of health workers and communities to prepare for and respond to climate-related health emergencies.

Some of the specific areas of focus for the CCHPU include waterborne diseases, malnutrition, mental health, and vector-borne diseases. The unit also works to improve access to clean water and sanitation, strengthen health systems, and increase the resilience of communities to climate change impacts.

Main Goal of the Unit is to build capacity and strengthen health systems to combat the health impact of climate change and to protect human health from current and projected risks due to climate change.