Institute of Public Health (Bangladesh) explained

Institute of Public Health
Formation:1952
Headquarters:Dhaka, Bangladesh
Region Served:Bangladesh
Language:Bengali

Institute of Public Health is a Bangladesh government owned and operated public health education and research institute under the Directorate General of Health Services.[1] [2]

History

Institute of Public Health was established in 1952 as the Combined Public Health Laboratories and renamed to Institute of Public Health in 1953. The institute has nearly one thousand researchers and academics underneath it. It offers post-graduate degrees and is located on 47.8-acre site in Mohakhali, Dhaka.[3] It has a Virology Unit, Bacteriology Unit, Epidemiology Unit, Laboratory Diagnosis, IntraVenous Fluid Production Unit, Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) Fluid unit, Blood Bag Production Unit, Pasteur Cum Vaccine Institute (PCVI) Unit, Anti Sera Production Unit, Diagnostic Reagent Production Unit, Quality Control Laboratory, Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoid, and DPT Production Unit, Oral Rehydration (ORS) Salt Production, Food Safety Unit, Public Health Laboratory, National Food Safety Laboratory, and an Academic Wing.[4]

In 2004, the Institute of Public Health found more than 50 percent of the food in Bangladesh was contaminated.[5] In 2014, the institute was facing a large utility bill due to large number of illegal residences built within its premises who were using their electricity illegally.[6]

Controversy

On 29 October 2020, director of the Institute of Public Health, Dr Muhammad Abdur Rahim, issued a circular that mandated Muslim staff dress according to the requirements of the religion including wearing hijab for female employees.[7] Following public outcry he was forced to rescind the order and issue a public apology.[8] [9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Institute of Public Health - IPH . iph.gov.bd . Institute of Public Health . 1 November 2020.
  2. News: bn:পোশাকের নির্দেশনা বাতিল: ভুল স্বীকার জনস্বাস্থ্য ইনস্টিটিউট পরিচালকের . https://bangla.bdnews24.com/bangladesh/article1820828.bdnews . 1 November 2020 . bdnews24.com . bn.
  3. Web site: About Us . Institute of Public Health - IPH . 1 November 2020.
  4. Web site: Laboratory Services . Institute of Public Health - IPH . 27 July 2020 . 1 November 2020.
  5. Eating Away Our Health . 1 November 2020 . Star Weekend Magazine . 5 November 2004.
  6. News: Institute of Public Health jolted by illegal power lines . 1 November 2020 . Dhaka Tribune . 2 May 2014.
  7. News: Institute of Public Health issues dress code for Muslim employees . 1 November 2020 . The Daily Star . 29 October 2020 . en.
  8. News: Circular on dress code: Institute of Public Health director apologises . 1 November 2020 . The Daily Star . 29 October 2020 . en.
  9. News: IPH director now sorry for Islamic dress code mandate . 1 November 2020 . Dhaka Tribune . 29 October 2020.