Non-communicable disease
Inadequacies in control measures to create crisis
UNB
Inadequacies in non-communicable disease control measures pose a major threat to the countrys health sector despite other achievements in improving the healthcare services, speakers said in the capital yesterday, reports UNB. Particularly, they said, there is a serious shortage in healthcare services in this regard for women and children. Insufficient infrastructure and lack of preparedness to meet the patient demands are also part of the scenario, they said. Speakers discussed these issues at the launching ceremony of the sixth Bangladesh Health Watch Report 2016 at the BRAC Centre Auditorium in the capital.
Nahin Razzaq, MP attended the event titled Non-Communicable Diseases in Bangladesh: Current Scenario and Future Directions as the chief guest, said a press release.
Acting Head of Gender Studied Cluster and Coordinator of Centre for Gender and Social Transformation, Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Development, BRAC University, Simeen Mahmud presided over the function.
Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Vice-chairman of BRAC Dr Ahmed Mushtaque Raza Chowdhury, Dhaka Office head of United Kingdoms Department for International Development Jane Edmondson and head of Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency Anders Ohstrom, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Nahin Razzaq said, With the increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases, the government has started investing in this area. Were going to formulate an action plan next month. Weve also increased emphasis on young peoples engagement in sports and cultural activities.
Zafrullah Chowdhury said although the government is implementing many commendable programmes, non-communicable diseases are heading towards creating a crisis situation due only to some wrong policies.
He said the organ transplant law that the government has recently enacted is not practical. I believe, the government could have the law formulated with directions that allowed not only close relatives but anyone to donate kidney.
The report presented data and analysis on the nature and risk factors regarding the non-communicable diseases in Bangladesh.
The challenges highlighted in the report among others include: Mainstreaming non-communicable disease service provision at the primary healthcare level, Non-functioning regulatory framework and lack of coordination at the national level and three, lack of robust national database incorporating data from rural and urban areas as well as public and private sources for regular and strong surveillance of such diseases.
