reducing non-communicable diseases
Bangladesh scores poorly, says study
UNB
A newly developed scorecard by an international group, including icddr,b, has showed that Bangladesh performs poorly in reducing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), reports UNB. The Lancet on Friday published findings of the new scorecard, measuring the performance of 23 countries, including Bangladesh, in reducing their burden of non-communicable diseases, according to icddr,b. The scorecard results show that many countries, including Bangladesh, are yet to establish needed actions to reduce deaths and disability from non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke,diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. Grand South, a global network of 11 research centres including icddr,b, developed the scorecard as a tool to monitor and help improve the performance of countries with high non-communicable disease burden.
The scorecard was developed as a result of a United Nations political declaration after a high level meeting in 2011 that committed countries to actions that would help prevent and control non-communicable diseases.
Bangladesh has made progress with the development of a multi-sectoral plan for 2016-2021 to prevent and control non-communicable diseases, says Dr Aliya Naheed, Associate Scientist and Interim Head of the Chronic Non-communicable Diseases Unit, icddr,b.
Strengthening the primary care strategy for early screening, diagnosis and treatment, along with financing and mobilising communities to lead a healthy lifestyle are crucial steps to halt the emergence of non-communicable diseases in Bangladesh.
The summary of the scorecard results show that three South-Asian countries--Bangladesh, India and Pakistan--scored relatively low compared to other participating countries. Both Bangladesh and India performed moderately in the area of planning and leadership, whereas Pakistan scored very low. India scored better than Bangladesh and Pakistan in reducing risk factors of non-communicable diseases. However, all the three countries performed poorly in the area of researching and surveillance of such diseases.
Non-communicable diseases are responsible for half of Bangladeshs annual mortality and account for 61 percent of the countrys disease burden. The scorecard identifies Bangladeshs low performance in reducing risk factors, conducting research and surveillance, and strengthening health systems in relation to non-communicable diseases.
Deaths caused by NCDs are expected to increase by 15% between 2010 and 2020 with the biggest increases in Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and South-East Asia.
In low- and middle- income countries, 29% of deaths caused by NCDs occur in people under 60. Half of premature deaths from NCDs are preventable. The World Health Organisation has set a voluntary target for the countries to reduce deaths of people under age 70 from NCDs by 25 per cent by 2025.
