Public Health Information Service in the Northern Region of Bangladesh: An Exploratory Study

Authors

A.K.M. Eamin Ali Akanda, Assistant Professor,Dept. of Information Science and Library Management, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi-6205, BangladeshFollow
Kazi Mostak Gausul Hoq, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Information Science and Library Management, Dhaka University, Dhaka-1000, BangladeshFollow

Date of this Version

Summer 8-15-2012

Abstract

Abstract

Public health information service plays a crucial role in upgrading the health status of the population of any country by providing valuable information on issues like health, sanitation, nutrition and family planning.Bangladesh, with one of the highest concentrations of non government organizations in the world, has been grappling with many health related problems including weak and insufficient infrastructure, corruption, population explosion, lack of health professionals, lack of awareness, etc. Although the organizations working in the region are making considerable efforts for reaching out to the larger cross-sections of rural people, their efforts are hampered by various socio-economic problems and other limitations. The survey conducted under the study yields valuable information regarding the problems and possibilities of the public health information system in the northern region of Bangladesh in particular and the whole country in general. Based on the findings, it puts forward a number of suggestions for the improvement of the situation.