Staff Reporter :
Non-communicable diseases are spreading like a silent epidemic in Bangladesh, experts said.
Public health experts said that multi-sectoral initiatives should be taken to prevent these diseases.
“Non-communicable diseases are spreading sharply in our country. It is time to prevent those through multi-sectoral approaches,” Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque said it while addressing an online seminar titled ‘Silent Epidemic of NCDs: Measures to Protect Public Health’ on Wednesday.
Bangladesh Network for NCD Control and Prevention (BNNCP) organized the virtual seminar.
Speaking as the chief guest, the health minister said that there are various reasons behind spreading of non-communicable diseases among the people.
One of those reasons is tobaccos.
The present government is working robustly to reduce the use of tobacco, he said.
The health minister further said that environmental pollution, air pollution, adulteration of food, unhealthy lifestyle and lack of physical labour are responsible for non-communicable diseases.
“The Ministry of Health alone cannot prevent these diseases. This requires a joint initiative of various ministries, government and non-government organizations,” he said.
National Professor Brigadier (Retd.) Abdul Malik, President of National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh presided over the seminar.
Professor Abdullah Al Shafi Majumder, Secretary General of Bangladesh Cardiac Society, presented a brief note on covid-19 and non-communicable diseases at the seminar. Professor Sohel Reza Choudhury, Head, Department of Epidemiology and Research, National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, presented the keynote at the seminar.
He called for multi-pronged measures to prevent non-communicable diseases.
He called for strengthening tobacco control laws to reduce tobacco use, one of the major risks of non-communicable diseases.
To this end, on behalf of BNNCP, he proposed six amendments to the existing tobacco control law.
These included repealing the provision for keeping smoking areas or DSAs in public places and public transport; ban on display of tobacco products in shops, ban on CSR of tobacco companies, ban on import, production, sale and use of e-cigarettes, increasing the size of graphical health warning and prohibition of sale of single stick cigarettes.
National Professor Brigadier (Retd.) Abdul Malik has remarked that we need to focus on tobacco control and healthy eating habits to prevent non-communicable diseases. He urged all to take joint initiatives against NCDs.
Professor AKM Mahibullah, President of Bangladesh Cardiac Society gave welcome address at the seminar. Director General of the Department of Health, Professor ABM Khurshid Alam and Dr. Mohammad Jamsheed, the Deputy Representative of the World Health Organization in Bangladesh were also present as special guests.
Among others, NCD Alliance President-Elect Dr. Monica Aurora, President of Kidney Foundation of Bangladesh Professor Harun-ur-Rashid and President of Bangladesh Cancer Society Professor Mollah Obaidullah Baki spoke at the seminar.
