Staff Reporter: Community Bank Bangladesh PLC. has extended its support to icddr,b for a pioneering project titled “Awareness, acceptance and barriers check by immunizing Human Papillomavirus vaccine among female police staff to prevent cervical cancer in Bangladesh.” Under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program of the Bank this initiative will allow icddr,b to address one of the most pressing women’s health challenges in Bangladesh by focusing on cervical cancer prevention through vaccination and awareness.

Unlike existing vaccination programmes that largely target adolescents, this project will bridge a critical gap by focusing on adult women in an organised workforce who are often excluded. A total of 188 female police personnel aged between 18 to 45 years will be enrolled from the Armed Forces Police Battalion (AFPB), Dhaka, with selection coordinated by AFPB.

The initiative, led by Dr. Rizwana Khan, Assistant Scientist at icddr,b, will move forward in seven structured phases, beginning with ethical approvals and baseline surveys, followed by awareness campaigns, vaccination delivery, monitoring and evaluation, and finally dissemination of results. Alongside providing HPV vaccination, the project will promote safe menstrual hygiene management and raise awareness to improve overall health and quality of life for female police staff.

A cheque handover ceremony was held at icddr,b in the presence of Mr. Md. Ali Hossain Fakir, Inspector General of Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh and Chairman of Community Bank Bangladesh PLC,; Mr. Mohammed Emtiaz Uddin, Managing Director of the Bank and Dr. Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director of icddr,b, received the support alongside senior colleagues.

Mr. Ali Hossain Fakir, Inspector General of Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh and Chairman of Community Bank Bangladesh PLC. said on the ocassion, “Our policewomen serve the country with dedication, and their health and wellbeing must remain a top priority. By supporting this initiative with icddr,b, we are taking a step forward in ensuring cervical cancer prevention through HPV vaccination, alongside raising awareness about their health and wellbeing. I believe this project will create a model for workplace-based vaccination that can be replicated more widely.” says press release

Mr. Emtiaz Uddin, Managing Director of Community Bank Bangladesh PLC. said, “We are grateful to icddr,b for their leadership in driving this important health initiative. We are proud to stand beside our policewomen in protecting their health. This is only the beginning; our support will grow stronger in the coming years as we continue to invest in meaningful projects that create lasting impact.”

Dr. Tahmeed thanked the Bank’s management for their commitment, calling the initiative “commendable” in its vision to protect the health of women who serve the nation. He added, “By generating evidence on workplace-based vaccination, this project can influence national policy and help extend protection to many more women across Bangladesh.”