Setting the Record Straight

As Key Note Speaker at the Dissemination of the World Mental Health Report, and National Mental Health Strategic Plan 2020-2030, Bangladesh, 2022. Credit: Jishan SultanaBy Saima WazedDHAKA, Bangladesh, Oct 9 2023 (IPS) This year, three of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) six regions elect new Regional Directors (RD). The South-East Asia Region (SEARO) is composed of only 11 Member States, yet is home to over a quarter of the world’s population. Two SEARO Member States, Nepal and Bangladesh, have nominated their candidates to contest for RD. I have the privilege of being Bangladesh’s nominated candidate. The SEARO RD election has generated a surprising amount of attention and news coverage, and several prominent regional & international publications have published pieces expressing alarm at my candidacy, and doubts about my suitability for the role. In building their argument these articles rely on damaging biases, and perpetuate harmful stigmas and stereotypes. The first contention is that because my mother is the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, my nomination must be fuelled by nepotism. While I accept it is inevitable that there will be greater scrutiny of me due to my mother’s position, what is unfortunate is the erasure of my years of work, study and accomplishments. Despite being in the public domain, the articles avoid mentioning my work with Chatham House’s Global Health Program or their Commission for Universal Health. They ignore that I have b...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Asia-Pacific Gender Headlines Health TerraViva United Nations Women's Health IPS UN Bureau Source Type: news