Impact of US-AID cuts

In a recent news segment, the American TV network PBS profiled Dr. Nazmul Huda, Chair of the MPH program at IUBAT, speaking as the former Country Project Director, Health Systems for Tuberculosis. This now-shuttered USAID-funded project, was intended to wean Bangladesh’s T.B. program off foreign funding. As Nazmul explains to the interviewer, “My project was about to prepare the government to take the responsibility of managing and financing the tuberculosis program. The project ended abruptly at a very crucial time for the country in terms of technology transfer. Whatever we have achieved in the last few years, we will not be able to transfer that result.” The setback not only stalls Bangladesh's path toward self-reliance, but also threatens to reverse progress made, as fewer cases are detected and many that are diagnosed do not complete their treatment regimen. As Nazmul commented, “TB requires long treatment. And if there is interruption, more complexities might happen, for example, in the form of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.”

A Nursing Development Strategy for Bangladesh

In a Health Systems Matter blog post, BHP director Alex Berland proposes a strategy to enhance the contributions of nurses: “Increasing and improving production of nurses is widely discussed in Bangladesh. There are obvious benefits from meeting national health care needs as well as from the remittances by nurses who emigrate. There are also risks and hazards for funders, for population health and for nurses themselves. The purpose of this paper is to suggest a way forward that may mitigate the risks and also achieve the benefits of strengthening the nursing profession in Bangladesh.”

Alex’s post outlines the case for action, a systems-level approach and recommendations for immediate action.  He recommends (1) a National Nursing Task Group to create the nursing development strategy based on an update to previous reports on health human resources (2) a process to engage with development partners concerning their input and support and (3) a process to engage nursing stakeholders and civil society representatives.

Photo credit: Health Systems Matter

The power of nursing in Bangladesh and beyond

About the author Susan Ng McNeill, BScN, MPH, is a Canadian-trained nursing leader whose work focuses on knowledge translation, practice transformation, and collaborative network development. She is currently based in Malaysia and can be reached via LinkedIn.

IUBAT student AZM SHALEAH Now Senior Staff Nurse (Administration) Dhaka Medical College Hospital

Almost fifteen years ago, I had the privilege of developing and teaching the community health course and practicum within the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at IUBAT. For two consecutive years, I taught classes and worked with other faculty and preceptors to support students during their community placements. That experience remains one of the great highlights of my nursing career—and of my life. It continues to shape how I think about learning, leadership, and the impact of nursing in communities around the world.

The students

What stands out most, even after all these years, are the students themselves. Rarely do you encounter a group so eager to learn, so determined to bring their full selves to every class and clinical experience. They supported one another generously, reflected deeply on their practice, and carried a shared sense of purpose—to do their best and become great nurses. Their energy and humanity reminded me daily of why I became a nurse and an educator.

The placements

Two practicum sites left lasting impressions. At ICDDR,B — often called the Cholera Hospital— students practiced alongside nurses whose expertise was extraordinary. I remember watching nurses find veins in people near death from dehydration and, within minutes, seeing life return through the power of a simple IV bolus. Beyond emergency care, ICDDR,B also offered education and rehabilitation — teaching families how to prepare nutritious meals and to use play to promote healthy child development.

At the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed, nurses and the multi-disciplinary team provided skilled medical care until patients were ready to relearn daily living skills, adapt their environments, and discover new vocations. I will never forget watching a spirited wheelchair basketball game — proof that people can thrive even after devastating injury.

Lasting influence

Since my time in Bangladesh, I have continued to work in programs that empower nurses as best practice champions — leaders who transform care delivery and improve outcomes across all settings. It’s inspiring to know that many IUBAT graduates are now doing the same: leading clinics and NGOs, teaching in universities, and pursuing advanced education.

IUBAT — and Bangladesh more broadly — remains, in my eyes, an incubator for nursing leadership. The lessons I learned there are woven into who I am today. The experience affirmed my belief that nurses, whether in formal leadership roles or on the front lines, have the knowledge and power to transform individual lives, strengthen care delivery, and shape health systems.