Health Promotion Situation, Services, Education and Capacity Building Assessment in Bangladesh, 2025

The report is part of the project title "Capacity Strengthening for countries in South-East Asia Region (SEAR) in response to the 21st Century Health Promotion: The project development under collaboration between ThaiHealth and Faculty of Public Health Mahidol University, Thailand. Health promotion plays a critical role in addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, strengthening population wellbeing, and supporting sustainable health systems. In the WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR), countries are increasingly prioritising health promotion as a strategic approach to improve health outcomes across the life course; however, evidence on existing capacity, institutional structures, and workforce readiness remains limited in many countries, including Bangladesh. This study aimed to map the current health promotion capacity in Bangladesh by assessing knowledge, skills, commitment, institutional structures, systems, and leadership; review existing health promotion education and training curricula; and identify training needs among professionals working in government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academia, and the private sector. A mixed-methods situation analysis was conducted as part of a broader regional assessment across SEAR countries, combining document review with qualitative and quantitative data collection. National policies, strategic plans, legislation, and programme documents related to health promotion were reviewed, alongside consultations with key stakeholders from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, other government sectors, NGOs, academia, and the private sector through interviews, group discussions, and online meetings. The findings indicate that Bangladesh has made notable progress in integrating health promotion into national public health strategies, particularly through community-based programmes and multisectoral initiatives addressing maternal health, nutrition, and non-communicable diseases. However, substantial gaps remain in workforce capacity, institutional coordination, specialised training opportunities, and leadership structures dedicated to health promotion. Although several universities offer public health programmes, structured curricula specifically focused on health promotion competencies remain limited. Stakeholders highlighted the need for stronger cross-sectoral collaboration, improved professional training, and the development of measurable wellness indicators to monitor progress. Strengthening health promotion in Bangladesh will require targeted investment in workforce development, institutional capacity, and education systems. These findings provide important evidence to inform national planning and contribute to the development of a regional health promotion strategy across SEAR.