March 31, 2026
In an op-ed published in Dhaka Tribune, OHT’s Rishiraj Bhagawati and Dr.Wasif Ali Khan of icddr,b, explore a major shift in global health. Bangladesh is set to graduate from the United Nations’ “least developed country” status in 2026, a milestone that reflects the country’s significant economic and health progress.
But this transition also brings new challenges. As international funding support changes, sustaining essential programs, including immunization, will increasingly depend on domestic investment.
The op-ed highlights how vaccines play a key role in reducing antibiotic use and slowing the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). By preventing infections, including pneumococcal disease, diarrheal illnesses, and typhoid, vaccines can reduce the need for antibiotics, making them a critical tool in tackling AMR.
Bangladesh’s immunization program has already achieved major successes, but maintaining these gains will be key in the years ahead.
Through the Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership, the One Health Trust works with partners to support evidence-based policies that strengthen vaccine use as part of national AMR responses.
Read the op-ed here.
