Learning from Narita: Japan’s Airport Health Model Inspires Bangladesh’s Next Leap in Border Health

June 2025 - Diseases do no respect border boundaries, and the globalization of the world has exacerbated the threat of diseases reaching far and across countries thereby increasing the need for strengthened border disease surveillance in countries

In light of this, a delegation of IHR-POE experts from Bangladesh with support from WHO recently visited Japan to hold important bilateral IHR discussions with Japanese counterparts. These discussions were aimed at strengthening IHR POE capacities in Bangladesh through mutual experience sharing including visit to the Narita International Airport. This is part of ongoing support by WHO to the government to ensure optimal IHR POE core capacities for the new (3^rd) terminal of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Earlier on in January 2024 WHO supported an expert mission (WHO IHR-POE and ICAO experts) to Bangladesh for onsite assessment and made recommendations which included this visit to airports of similar capacities to exchange ideas.

The visit which held from 23–24 June 2025, had a delegation of senior officials from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the visit the delegation engaged with relevant officials from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), the Narita Airport Quarantine Station, and the Animal and Plant Quarantine Service under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to observe on-site operations, exchange expertise, and explore good practices in emergency preparedness, passenger, and vector surveillance as well as inter-and intra-sectorial coordination.

The delegation observed first-hand how Japan embeds IHR principles into everyday airport operations. “Seeing Japan’s comprehensive approach to IHR – from policy to field practice – strengthened my belief that Bangladesh can and must invest in similar long-term systems,” said DR Md. Nasir Ahmed Khan, Senior Advisor (IHR), DGHS.

The team was also exposed to the use of advanced digital technologies as part of the country’s state of the art airport health infrastructure including the use of automated disinfection systems, and real-time digital surveillance tools. “I was most impressed by their real-time digital surveillance systems and the clear SOPs for both routine and emergency operations,” noted Dr. Nuzhat Nadia, Deputy Programme Manager, IHR Program, DGHS.

Pivotal to the seamless collaboration within and between sectors was the presence of sound legal frameworks and clear SOPs to harmonise and align efforts. “The level of preparedness and the seamless coordination among agencies at Narita Airport was truly inspiring – something we must aim to replicate at HSIA,” said Prof. DR Md. Farhad Hussain, IHR NFP Bangladesh and Director, Disease Control, DGHS.

Upon return to the country, lessons learnt, and good practices observed during the visit are being adopted and incorporated into updated POE strategic and operational plans to strengthen health security and improve surveillance at POEs in the country particularly at the soon to be commissioned 3^rd terminal of the HSIA.

Overview of plant quarantine procedures at Narita Airport, including plant quarantine guidebooks

Demonstration of the imported food inspection system, highlighting microbiological testing processes

The delegation appreciated the support of the WHO in making the visit a reality. “WHO’s support was instrumental. They helped turn a recommendation into a mission – and a mission into actionable strategies,” shared Ms. Sayeda Jesmin Sultana Milky, Director General, Global Health Emergency Response Wing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For more information about this publication, please get in touch with Salma Sultana, NPO – Communication and Media, WHO Bangladesh, at ssultana@who.int