Mr Qamruzzaman Chowdhury, Health Secretary,
Professor Pravat Chandra Biswas, Director General of Health Services,
Ms Sheikh Momena Moni, Additional Secretary, World Health, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
Dear members of the SIMO network,
Dear IVD colleagues, WHO colleagues and partners,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to join you today, even if only virtually.
Thank you to the WHO Bangladesh IVD team for bringing us together.
Over the next three days, you will reflect on achievements, share experiences and discuss the road ahead. These conversations matter because they are ultimately about one thing: protecting people from diseases that we know how to prevent.
I would like to begin by recognizing the extraordinary contribution of the Surveillance and Immunization Medical Officers, or SIMOs.
Many of you have spent years working in communities, supporting surveillance, strengthening immunization programmes and helping ensure that outbreaks are detected and responded to quickly. Your work is not always visible, but it is essential.
The SIMO network was established to support polio eradication. Over time, it has become much more than that.
Today, SIMOs help detect outbreaks, support routine immunization, strengthen disease surveillance and contribute to emergency response efforts across the country. They have become a trusted part of Bangladesh’s public health system and an important link between communities, health authorities, WHO and partners.
I also want to acknowledge the Government of Bangladesh, WHO teams and partners for their response to the recent measles outbreak.
The outbreak was a reminder that progress in public health can never be taken for granted. Even diseases that we know how to prevent can return when immunity gaps emerge.
What impressed me was the speed and scale of the response.
In a short period of time, more than 18 million children were reached through a nationwide vaccination campaign. That represents an enormous collective effort involving health workers, local authorities, communities, WHO and many partners.
Behind those numbers are millions of children who are now better protected.
The SIMO network played an important role throughout the response—supporting surveillance, identifying cases, tracking trends and helping ensure that interventions reached the communities that needed them most.
This is exactly why strong surveillance and immunization systems matter.
When they work well, outbreaks are detected earlier, responses are faster, and lives are protected.
Colleagues,
As we celebrate these achievements, we must also think about the future.
Around the world, polio funding is declining. Countries are now considering how to sustain the valuable capacities that have been built through decades of investment.
This is not only a question about funding. It is a question about protecting capabilities that we know work.
Recent emergencies have shown us where surge capacity can fail, where coordination can break down, and where leadership must be strengthened. One lesson is clear: a strong, connected and rapidly deployable health workforce is essential. The people, systems and networks built through the polio programme continue to provide exactly these capabilities.
The SIMO network represents a wealth of experience, knowledge and commitment. Preserving that expertise and ensuring it continues to serve Bangladesh's health priorities will be important in the years ahead.
I encourage all partners, to continue working together with the Government of Bangladesh to find sustainable solutions that protect these capacities and build on the progress that has already been achieved.
WHO remains committed to supporting this effort.
Before I conclude, I would like to say a few words directly to our IVD colleagues and members of the SIMO network.
The achievements we are discussing today did not happen by chance.
They happened because of your dedication, your professionalism and your persistence.
Whether supporting a vaccination campaign, investigating a suspected case, analyzing surveillance data, responding to an outbreak, or travelling long distances to reach communities, your work makes a real difference in people's lives.
You are helping to keep children healthy, families safe and communities protected.
Today is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate those contributions.
I am delighted to acknowledge your efforts and have asked the WHO Representative to present certificates of appreciation on my behalf.
Thank you for everything you do for the people of Bangladesh.
I wish you a productive and inspiring meeting, and I look forward to hearing about the discussions and ideas that emerge over the coming days.
Thank you.