6.4m people become poor every year

Medical expense

Medical expenses make around 6.4 million people poor every year in Bangladesh, as many people cannot even afford treatment of diseases like cancer and kidney failure, revealed a report at a two-day science conference on health, which began at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh (ICCDRB) in Dhaka yesterday.
Another study found that 27.6 per cent of injection drug users (IDUs) still share the same needles, exposing themselves to high risk of infection with communicable diseases like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B.
Twenty-five study reports and papers were presented on the first day of the conference, organised by the Public Health Foundation of Bangladesh and Faith Bangladesh to mark the third Public Health Foundation Day.  
Taking part in the inaugural session of the conference, Public Health Foundation of Bangladesh chairman Prof. M Muzaherul Huq said, “People are not getting necessary healthcare services, even though the country has adequate numbers of healthcare facilities, physicians and other members of the workforce.”
In a keynote paper, additional director general of health services, Prof. Abul Kalam Azad, said, “We must ensure healthcare services for all, utilising the available infrastructure, facilities and manpower.”
The conference noted that as a large segment of the country’s population is not in a position to afford even treatment of diseases like diabetes and hypertension, the country should focus on their prevention.
The study papers dealt with various health issues, including health coverage in Bangladesh, child health, communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, and environmental health.
The Northern University Bangladesh conducted a study in Dhaka this year to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice on hepatitis B virus infection among 150 patients and found that 27.6 per cent of the injection drug users still share the same needles, exposing themselves to high risk of various diseases.
A teacher of the Public Health department of the university, Dr Sazia Huq, presented a study report, which showed 44.7 per cent of the respondents practised polygamous sex, and among them, 61.2 per cent did not use protective devices during sexual activity.
It also revealed that around 1.3 per cent of the respondents, who experienced blood transfusion, had a history of taking unscreened blood. The study found 70.7 per cent of the respondents did not take HBV vaccines.
Experts at the conference said efforts must be made to raise awareness among the people of active age groups about the deadly communicable diseases to prevent them.
Another study, conducted on 208 kids under five years of age, at Dhamrai Upazila Health Complex, by Anwar Khan Modern Medical College in June this year, found that diarrhoea, fever and pneumonia are the major causes of deaths among children.
Of the children, 26 per cent were found suffering from diarrhoea, 21 per cent had fever, 16 per cent had pneumonia, 13 per cent had common cold and 11 per cent suffered from malnutrition.
A separate study found links between infertility and smoking, depression, job stress, hypertension and diabetes.

 

6.4m people become poor every year

Medical expense

Medical expenses make around 6.4 million people poor every year in Bangladesh, as many people cannot even afford treatment of diseases like cancer and kidney failure, revealed a report at a two-day science conference on health, which began at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh (ICCDRB) in Dhaka yesterday. Another study found that 27.6 per cent of injection drug users (IDUs) still share the same needles, exposing themselves to high risk of infection with communicable diseases like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B. Twenty-five study reports and papers were presented on the first day of the conference, organised by the Public Health Foundation of Bangladesh and Faith Bangladesh to mark the third Public Health Foundation Day. Taking part in the inaugural session of the conference, Public Health Foundation of Bangladesh chairman Prof. M Muzaherul Huq said, People are not getting necessary healthcare services, even though the country has adequate numbers of healthcare facilities, physicians and other members of the workforce. In a keynote paper, additional director general of health services, Prof. Abul Kalam Azad, said, We must ensure healthcare services for all, utilising the available infrastructure, facilities and manpower. The conference noted that as a large segment of the countrys population is not in a position to afford even treatment of diseases like diabetes and hypertension, the country should focus on their prevention. The study papers dealt with various health issues, including health coverage in Bangladesh, child health, communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, and environmental health. The Northern University Bangladesh conducted a study in Dhaka this year to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice on hepatitis B virus infection among 150 patients and found that 27.6 per cent of the injection drug users still share the same needles, exposing themselves to high risk of various diseases. A teacher of the Public Health department of the university, Dr Sazia Huq, presented a study report, which showed 44.7 per cent of the respondents practised polygamous sex, and among them, 61.2 per cent did not use protective devices during sexual activity. It also revealed that around 1.3 per cent of the respondents, who experienced blood transfusion, had a history of taking unscreened blood. The study found 70.7 per cent of the respondents did not take HBV vaccines. Experts at the conference said efforts must be made to raise awareness among the people of active age groups about the deadly communicable diseases to prevent them. Another study, conducted on 208 kids under five years of age, at Dhamrai Upazila Health Complex, by Anwar Khan Modern Medical College in June this year, found that diarrhoea, fever and pneumonia are the major causes of deaths among children. Of the children, 26 per cent were found suffering from diarrhoea, 21 per cent had fever, 16 per cent had pneumonia, 13 per cent had common cold and 11 per cent suffered from malnutrition. A separate study found links between infertility and smoking, depression, job stress, hypertension and diabetes.