JUNE 27, DHAKA -- Today, U.S. Ambassador, Dan Mozena, announced a three-year, $200,000 USAID-funded program to expand the use of communication and information programs to improve health in Bangladesh. A key component of this program is a series of biweekly television episodes on public health issues called Jiboner Golpo (“Life Stories”) which will be aired on Desh TV starting from June 29, every alternate Saturday from 8:00pm. This programming will further national efforts to address the major health issues in Bangladesh, including maternal and child health, child under-nutrition and stunting, and infectious diseases.

In his remarks, Ambassador Mozena praised the media initiative and remarked that Bangladesh’s historic gains in the health sector since independence, including significant reductions in under-five and maternal mortality, could not have been achieved without the involvement of the media and the dissemination of key health education messages.

The U.S. Government, through USAID, has provided over $6 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh since 1971. In 2012 alone, USAID provided nearly $200 million to improve the lives of people in Bangladesh. USAID supports programs in Bangladesh that: promote democratic institutions and practices, expand food security and economic opportunity, improve health and education services, and increase resiliency to climate change through adaptation and low carbon development