Health experts at a symposium said health workers of community clinics could play an important role in preventing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
As health workers of community clinics are successfully performing their duties for prevention of communicable diseases, they would be able to contribute in checking NCDs, they said this on Sunday while speaking at the seconnd International Symposium on “Community Health Workers 2019” in a city hotel.Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque addressed the symposium as the chief guest.
The closing session of the symposium was chaired by Md. Ashadul Islam, Secretary, Health Services Division while Professor Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Director General of DGHS and Kazi A K M Mohiul Islam, Director General, Directorate General of Family Planning were present as special guests, a press release said.
The symposium was organised by icddr,b in collaboration with the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH) and Save the Children, Bangladesh.
This year’s theme was ‘Potentials of Community Health Workers in Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the Context of Universal Health Coverage (UHC)’.
The Dhaka symposium represents a renewed, re-energised vision and engagement of the community health workers to act and deliver interventions that would address emerging challenges of non-communicable diseases. Speaking on the occasion, Zahid said Bangladesh has achieved a remarkable success in checking communicable diseases as the government has implemented massive programme in the past 10 years.
He urged both local and international organizations to work together for preventing Non-Communicable Diseases.
In her presentation, Prof Dr Nasima Sultana, Additional Director General (Admin) of DGHS said NCDs are increasing alarmingly in the country and it is very crucial for the intervention of community healthcare providers to check the diseases.
Mark Pierce, Country Director of Save the Children, Bangladesh, Xerses Sidhwa, Office Director of USAID Bangladesh, Tomoo Hozumi, Country Representative of UNICEF Bangladesh, Dr Asa Torkelsson, Country Representative of UNFPA Bangladesh and Dr Bardan Jung Rana Country Representative of WHO Bangladesh also spoke on the occasion.
