Speakers at a health conference yesterday said respiratory diseases cause a significant health burden both globally and in Bangladesh and it affects all age groups, says a press release.

A large number of our people are suffering from different respiratory diseases like asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), TB and lung malignancy due to rapid increase in population, urbanisation, economic growth and industrialisation, atmospheric air pollution, high levels of indoor air pollution, increasing prevalence of tobacco smoking and HIV epidemic, they said.

 “Asthma alone affects 70 lakh people. Annually, 70,000 Bangladeshis die from Tuberculosis. By 2020, respiratory diseases will be the third leading cause of death globally, so it is the peak time to take up a pragmatic action plan to face this challenge”. They made the remarks while addressing a three-day 5th International Conference on Lung Health at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital yesterday.   

Some 1,300 physicians from home and abroad are attending the programme. Bangladesh Lung Foundation (BLF) organized the programme for promoting lung health.

BLF president Prof Mohammad Rashidul Hassan, secretary general Prof Mohammad Ali Hossain, treasurer Dr Asif Mujtaba Mahmud, joint secretary Dr Mohammad Abdus Shakur Khan,  organising secretary Prof. Mohammad Mohiuddin Ahmad and others spoke at the function.