Dhaka, 12 May 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bangladesh, in collaboration with The Coca-Cola Foundation and Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), has successfully completed a series of gender-sensitive health camps for informal plastic waste workers in Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, and Tangail, providing free healthcare services to more than 350 workers.

The six health camps, organized under UNDP’s Plastics Circularity Project (PCP), were held on 6 May in Tangail, 11 May in Cox’s Bazar, and concluded on 12 May in Chattogram. Two camps were arranged in each district as part of the three-year initiative supported by The Coca-Cola Foundation.

The initiative aimed to improve access to healthcare for informal waste workers—men and women whose daily efforts help keep cities clean and prevent plastic waste from polluting landfills, rivers, drains, canals, and the Bay of Bengal.

Participants received comprehensive free medical services, including blood pressure and blood sugar screening, temperature and weight checks, as well as one-on-one consultations with female doctors. The consultations addressed a range of health concerns such as chronic back and joint pain, respiratory and skin diseases, occupational stress, and women’s reproductive health issues. Beneficiaries were also provided with prescribed medicines, including pain relievers, oral saline, iron and calcium supplements, and antifungal creams.

Recognizing the unique health challenges faced by women in the informal waste sector, the camps offered private reproductive and menstrual health consultations. Women participants also received “dignity kits” containing personal hygiene and safety essentials.

Bangladesh’s informal waste management sector employs a large number of women who often work in hazardous conditions with limited access to healthcare tailored to their needs.

“Waste workers are the foundation of any functioning circular economy, yet they remain among the most underserved in our health system,” said Samiul Ahsan, Project Expert of the Plastics Circularity Project at UNDP Bangladesh. “These camps are part of a sustained commitment to ensure that the people building a cleaner Bangladesh are seen, supported and protected.”

Local government officials in all three districts praised the initiative. Elenga Municipality Executive Officer Chandana Rani Sarkar thanked UNDP and The Coca-Cola Foundation for supporting plastic waste workers in Tangail through healthcare services.

In Cox’s Bazar, Municipality Administrator Md. Shamim Al Imran announced plans to create a health database and introduce personal health insurance for registered plastic waste workers to ensure continuous medical care.

Meanwhile, Md. Sarful Islam Mahi, Malaria and Mosquito Control Officer of Chattogram City Corporation, emphasized the importance of collective action in tackling plastic pollution. “Addressing the global plastic crisis requires collaboration across government, the private sector, and civil society. Chattogram City Corporation stands firmly behind this initiative,” he said.

Bangladesh produces more than 800,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually, much of which is recovered and recycled by informal waste workers, including collectors, pickers, and sorters. Despite their significant environmental contribution, these workers often operate without adequate safety measures or social protection.

Through the Plastics Circularity Project, UNDP aims to recycle 15,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste and directly support 2,000 plastic waste workers, including 600 women, across Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, and Tangail by October 2027.