US embassy cable - 05DHAKA3711

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 003711 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR PERLA R. LUCERO OES/STC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KSCA, TSPL, AMGT, OTRA, APER, SENV, ECON, BG, Education 
SUBJECT: DHAKA PROPOSAL FOR EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOWS PROGRAM - 2005 
 
REF: STATE 123789 
 
1. This cable responds to reftel's invitation to apply for 
projects funded under the Embassy Science Fellows Program 
(ESFP).  Two proposals follow. 
 
National Tuberculosis (TB) Control Programme of Bangladesh: 
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2. Tuberculosis is a major public health problem in 
Bangladesh, which has the fifth highest burden of TB cases in 
the world.  About 300,000 TB cases, including 137,000 
smear-positive pulmonary TB cases, and 70,000 deaths, are 
estimated to occur every year. 
 
3. Bangladesh endorsed the Directly Observed Treatment 
Short-course (DOTS) therapy in 1991.  Since 1993, DOTS has 
been implemented through the National TB Control Programme of 
Bangladesh (NTP) and, according to a 2002 World Health 
Organization (WHO) estimate, DOTS is available in 95 percent 
of the country.  While the case detection rate is 40 percent, 
the cure rate is 84 percent of the detected cases in the DOTS 
program areas.  Quarterly and annually, NTP has to report its 
progress in expansion of DOTS to the Bangladesh government's 
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and its development 
partners at WHO, the Canadian International Development 
Agency (CIDA), and the Global Fund Against AIDS, TB and 
Malaria (GFATM).  These data concern numbers of patients 
diagnosed with TB, treatment outcomes, service delivery 
strengthening, quality of microscopy, training, partnerships, 
advocacy, communication activities, social mobilization 
activities, performance, operational research, and finances. 
 
4. NTP and its partners have identified an urgent need for an 
overall monitoring and evaluation plan with computerized 
entry of all data.  Technical assistance, including 
development of a computerized recording and analysis 
mechanism, is needed for two months.  In addition, 
backstopping during the initial phases of implementation of 
the system would be needed for, on average, one day every two 
weeks, ideally for the first six months, if this is possible 
under the terms of the fellowship. 
 
5. NIH is the most likely candidate agency for a Fellow who 
could perform this project.  A background in TB data 
collection and the development of data collection systems 
will be necessary.  Experience working at the state, county 
or local health department level would be helpful as well. 
Also required is skill with numbers and detail work, computer 
programming for data collection, and information systems in 
general.  Workspace could be provided either in USAID's 
Population, Health, and Nutrition section or at NTP itself. 
 
Studying the Effects of Global Warming 
-------------------------------------- 
 
6. Global warming is a sensitive political issue at this 
time, worldwide.  Bangladesh has experienced seasonal floods 
for millennia, which it is currently tackling with some 
success.  During a normal monsoon, anywhere from one to two 
thirds of Bangladesh is under water.  However, it remains at 
very high risk for water levels elevated even beyond this 
point due to its topography and location at the mouth of 
several of South Asia's largest rivers should global warming 
lead to melting ice caps and rising oceans.  According to an 
informal US Geological Survey (USGS) estimate, Bangladesh 
should expect to see major changes in its weather and 
inundation patterns in the next 10 years. 
 
7. We are unaware of any study, in any discipline, that 
addresses this potentially catastrophic problem.  The 
government of Bangladesh (BDG) has neither the resources nor 
the vision to deal with this challenge.  A country faced with 
Bangladesh's extreme population and land-use stresses would 
experience major socio-economic dislocations with even a 
modest rise in ocean and river levels. 
 
8. An ESFP Fellow could begin the process of educating the 
BDG and the USG on what to expect in Bangladesh as a result 
of global warming.  A scientist with background in global 
warming issues could perform a small-scale assessment 
according to his/her discipline; to include topics such as: 
meteorology, mapping, ecology, geology, hydrology, 
environmental science, and biology.  NOAA, USGS, NASA, or NSF 
are all possible source agencies. 
 
General Requirements/Post Amenities for ESFP Fellow: 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
9. For any Fellow, Bangla language skills would be ideal. 
However, many USG scientists come to Bangladesh and 
accomplish all their research with no specialized language 
skills.  Post's ESTH Officer has yet to encounter a BDG 
scientist who does not have at least fair English ability. 
 
10. Space in the Embassy is at a premium, but we are 
confident that appropriate arrangements can be made that 
would not require a security clearance.  However, a Fellow 
with a clearance at least equivalent to Temporary Top Secret 
would enhance our flexibility to provide support. 
 
11. Regarding housing, our intention would be to offer any 
vacant housing or to find a Foreign Service host family. 
Once we have specific information on a Fellow's timing and 
personal particulars, we will approach Embassy community 
members if and as needed.  A visa must be obtained from the 
Embassy of Bangladesh in order for an ESFP fellow to enter 
the country. 
 
12. It is imperative that the Fellow's parent agency work 
with M/MED at the State Department to determine how 
healthcare expenses will be paid.  Post's Health Unit is one 
of the only reliable healthcare facilities in Bangladesh. 
Gastrointestinal and other illnesses are common and may 
require short-term treatment.  If the Fellow needs to make 
use of the Health Unit, or if a medevac is required, there 
must be an arrangement with their parent agency already in 
place. 
CHAMMAS