Turkey expresses interest in supporting maternal healthcare and women in Bangladesh’s remote areas

Turkey wants to send a team of experts to Bangladesh to help address health risks faced by women in coastal and remote areas due to climate change and improve maternal healthcare. Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan has expressed interest in working with Bangladesh’s Health Ministry to achieve this goal.

The issue was discussed at a meeting between Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and Emine Erdogan, wife of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The meeting also focused on cooperation between the two countries in dealing with climate change, protecting the health of women and children, promoting renewable energy and increasing the production and sale of environment-friendly products.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam shared the information at a press conference in Antalya, Turkey, on Tuesday (November 10) night.

She said Emine Erdogan had a productive meeting with Dr Zubaida Rahman on the first day of the Bangladeshi delegation’s participation in the COP31 conference.

They discussed the health and social problems faced by women and children due to climate change. They also discussed sharing the experiences of the two countries to address these problems.

Shama Obaed said Emine Erdogan praised the ability of the people of Bangladesh to face the challenges of climate change.

She also expressed interest in supporting Bangladesh in producing energy from waste, using solar power and adopting environment-friendly technologies.

The meeting also discussed expanding the international market for Bangladeshi jute products, especially environment-friendly and biodegradable products that can be used as alternatives to plastic. The Turkish first lady showed special interest in this area.

The state minister said Dr Zubaida Rahman spoke about women’s empowerment, healthcare and the growing risks faced by women and children due to climate change in Bangladesh.

She also informed Emine Erdogan about the government’s tree-planting and canal-digging programmes under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to build an environment-friendly Bangladesh.

Praising these initiatives, Emine Erdogan said there were many opportunities for cooperation between Bangladesh and Turkey in energy production, the use and export of jute products, women’s empowerment and tackling climate change.

The Rohingya crisis also received importance at the meeting.

Shama Obaed said Emine Erdogan had visited the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar after the Rohingya people took shelter in Bangladesh in 2017. Turkey has been providing humanitarian support to the Rohingya for a long time.

She said the permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis is their safe, voluntary and dignified return to Myanmar.

However, the Turkish first lady assured Bangladesh that Turkey would continue to support the Rohingya in ensuring healthcare, education and other basic rights until their return becomes possible.

Speaking about the impact of climate change on women and children, Shama Obaed said women in Bangladesh’s coastal areas face various health and social risks along with environmental challenges.

The meeting also discussed internal displacement caused by climate change and the health risks faced by women.

She said Emine Erdogan wants to share Turkey’s experience in dealing with these problems with Bangladesh.

To this end, she expressed interest in sending a team of experts to work with Bangladesh’s Health Ministry. The two countries will especially share their experiences in addressing the health problems of disadvantaged women and improving maternal healthcare.

The state minister also said Dr Zubaida Rahman invited the Turkish first lady to visit Bangladesh.

Recalling her visit to Bangladesh in 2017, Emine Erdogan also expressed interest in visiting the country again. She expressed hope of making the visit soon at a convenient time.