Healthy City, Healthy Citizens: Professor Dr. Triptish Chandra Ghose
Advancing Public Health in Comilla through Smart Policies and Inclusive Urban Services
A city’s prosperity depends not only on its roads, buildings, or economy, but also on the health and well-being of its citizens. Public health is the foundation of productive, vibrant communities and a key indicator of sustainable urban development. In Comilla, one of Bangladesh’s most historically significant and rapidly urbanizing cities, the importance of accessible and resilient public health services has never been more urgent.
Under the leadership of the Comilla City Corporation (CuCC), significant strides have been made in expanding healthcare access, strengthening infrastructure, raising health awareness, and responding to the unique needs of an urban population. With a people-centered vision, CuCC is building a healthier Comilla—one that combines traditional healthcare with modern innovation and inclusive outreach.
This article explores the key dimensions of public health development in Comilla, the challenges it faces, and how city governance is responding with strategic planning, public partnerships, and community engagement.
Strengthening Urban Health Infrastructure
An effective health system begins with physical infrastructure—clinics, hospitals, sanitation, and emergency response facilities.
Key Developments in Comilla:
🏥 Expansion of Urban Health Centers
CuCC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and donor agencies, has established and upgraded:
- Ward-level Urban Primary Health Care Centers
- Maternal and Child Health Clinics
- Vaccination and immunization units
These centers provide basic healthcare, ANC/PNC (ante/post-natal care), and disease screening to thousands of citizens at low or no cost.
🚑 Mobile Health Services
To reach underserved communities, CuCC has launched mobile clinics that visit slums and peri-urban areas with:
- General check-ups
- Child vaccination
- Family planning services
- COVID-19 awareness and testing (during the pandemic)
This doorstep health access model has dramatically improved service delivery for those unable to travel to clinics.
Clean Environment, Clean Health
Urban health is closely tied to environmental hygiene. Comilla City Corporation has prioritized:
- Solid waste management with regular door-to-door garbage collection
- Clean public toilets in markets, parks, and transit areas
- Safe drinking water stations in schools and public spaces
- Mosquito control and anti-dengue drives, especially before the monsoon
Through public campaigns like “Porichchhonnatar Shapath” (Oath for Cleanliness) and community cleanliness drives, CuCC has fostered a culture of hygiene and prevention.
Health Education and Awareness
Prevention is often better than cure. CuCC’s public health programs include:
- School-based awareness sessions on hygiene, nutrition, and menstrual health
- Vaccination campaigns for diseases like polio, measles, tetanus, and COVID-19
- Billboards, leaflets, and street theatre to educate citizens on waste segregation, mosquito prevention, and safe food handling
Local health volunteers and NGOs are engaged to reach women, adolescents, and hard-to-reach populations with health messaging.
Maternal and Child Health Focus
Women and children are at the center of Comilla’s health priorities.
Key Programs:
- Safe Delivery Services at urban health centers
- Nutritional support and iron supplementation for pregnant women
- Breastfeeding corners in public facilities and markets
- Adolescent health counseling on puberty, mental health, and early marriage prevention
These initiatives reduce maternal mortality, support child growth, and empower women with knowledge and care.
Mental Health and Community Support
In a changing city with growing stressors, CuCC is beginning to address the mental well-being of citizens.
- Pilot programs offering psychological first aid at community clinics
- Workshops on stress and trauma for youth and frontline workers
- Exploring partnerships for tele-counseling services and mental health helplines
Though still emerging, these efforts reflect a holistic vision of health—one that recognizes emotional and psychological needs alongside physical health.
Emergency Preparedness and Disease Control
CuCC’s COVID-19 response showcased its commitment to responsive health governance:
- Isolation wards and temporary COVID clinics
- Public mask distribution and awareness
- Community volunteers for tracing and support
- Relief distribution for affected low-income families
The city is also strengthening its epidemic preparedness through data systems, stockpiling medicines, and training staff for public health emergencies.
Challenges to Urban Health in Comilla
Despite the progress, significant challenges remain:
🔴 Population Pressure
With growing migration to the city, health services are stretched. Clinics often experience high patient loads with limited staff and space.
🔴 Shortage of Skilled Manpower
Nurses, medical officers, lab technicians, and mental health professionals are in short supply, especially in urban slums.
🔴 Inequity in Access
Low-income, disabled, and elderly residents may struggle to access mainstream services due to distance, cost, or social barriers.
🔴 Lifestyle-Related Illness
Urban diets and sedentary lifestyles are leading to rising cases of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, requiring new preventive strategies.
The Path Forward: Building a Resilient Urban Health Ecosystem
Comilla City Corporation’s next steps must include:
✅ Integrated Urban Health Strategy
- Align health planning with water, sanitation, housing, and education
- Cross-departmental collaboration and long-term vision
✅ Public-Private Partnerships
- Encourage private clinics and diagnostic centers to offer subsidized care
- Develop health insurance or voucher schemes for low-income families
✅ Digital Health Innovation
- Expand e-health services and mobile apps for telemedicine, doctor booking, and reporting illness
- Use data to monitor disease trends and health outcomes in real time
✅ Community Health Leadership
- Train local women, youth, and volunteers as health ambassadors
- Create neighborhood health committees to support and supervise services
With these efforts, Comilla can become a national leader in people-focused urban healthcare.
Public health is not merely about hospitals or clinics—it is about ensuring every citizen can live a life of dignity, wellness, and hope. Comilla City Corporation has shown that even with limited resources, visionary planning, community involvement, and targeted investments can significantly improve health outcomes.
As the city continues to grow, its focus on health equity, cleanliness, emergency resilience, and community awareness will be essential to ensuring that development truly benefits everyone.
Because at the heart of every healthy city… are its healthy citizens.
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