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Nutrition,
Population Sector Programme (HNPSP) has identified
three NCDs-cancer, cardiovascular diseases and
diabetes mellitus-as major public health problems.
Therefore surveillance of these diseases should
be started to assist in formulating country
policies and programmes. They have a few common
risk factors for which Bangladesh does not have
representative data to be addressed for primary
prevention. More...
National
Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD)
National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital
(NIC), Bangladesh Institute of Research and
Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic
Disorders (BIRDEM), and National Heart Foundation
Hospital and Research Institute (NHF) are playing
important role in providing services to the
patients and education of professionals on cardiovascular
diseases, cancer and diabetes mellitus. Recently,
Zia Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Center
(ZHF), Dinajpur, started providing services
to cardiovascular patients of northern outlying
districts of Bangladesh where such services
had been lacking. Their capacity needs to be
strengthened to ensure quality management, and
surveillance and prevention of major NCDs.
Rheumatic
Heart Disease (RHD)
RHD still remains a public health problem of
Bangladesh. Improvement of skill of doctors
is necessary for its surveillance, prevention
and management. The National Center for Control
of Rheumatic Fever and Heart Diseases (NCCRFHD)
has been working for RHD prevention but there
is no surveillance mechanism for RHD.
Networking among these organisations, other
research groups in the country and overseas
institutes is necessary for sharing information,
experience and building skills.
Tobacco
A vast majority of the tobacco users are not
aware that it is an important risk factor for
cardiovascular diseases, cancer and chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. Recently, the
Government of Bangladesh has identified it as
a modifiable risk factor for non-communicable
disease prevention in Health Nutrition and Population
Sector Programme (HNPSP) which indicates government's
willingness to reduce the harmful effects of
tobacco. On the other hand, tobacco companies
are promoting their products by setting up attractive
billboards, and publishing advertisements in
newspapers and magazines. Some private satellite
TV channels are also telecasting advertisements
mainly to attract adolescents and young adults.
To the contrary, there are some NGOs who are
organising anti-smoking campaigns along with
the government organisations (such as Health
Education Bureau/BCC unit). Intensification
of antismoking activities is therefore, necessary.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh became the first country
to sign the FCTC. However, efforts need to be
taken to intensify and expedite the process
of ratification of the FCTC as well as enacting
an appropriate anti-tobacco legislation conforming
to the provisions in the FCTC. More...
Health
Promotion (Elderly)
Within a life-course perspective, the main thrust
is to conduct Health Promotion in household
settings where elderly people live, work and
play in a creative and cost effective environment
that is supportive of health and of improving
health and quality of life.
The major task will be implementing
intersectoral collaborative action and integrated
comprehensive approaches to promote healthy
life style, particularly for poor and elderly
people. Advocacy of health promotion for the
elderly will facilitate them to help each other
in utilisation of resources available for the
elderly people, especially among decision makers,
so as to ensure necessary political commitment
and resources.
Health
Promotion (Health Education)
The World Health Report 2002 documented the
public health impact of several major risks
that can be reduced through health promotion,
such as poor diet and nutrition, tobacco use,
alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, poor
hygiene, lack of safety and unsafe sex.
Risks to health are interrelated
and influenced by socio-cultural determinants,
such as gender, norms and spiritual beliefs.
Effective policies need to be multisectoral
and should draw upon a wide array of potential
partners for their successful implementation
Injuries
and Disabilities (Prevention)
Challenges in designing and implementing prevention
programmes for disability / injury include the
lack of ownership with uncertainty about who
is responsible for developing solutions and
as a result the duties of public health sector
remain ill-defined in absence of a national
plan for injury and violence prevention. More...
The response should include
surveillance systems and research to understand
better the magnitude of the burden and causes
and prevention of violence and injuries, training
for public health personnel, advocacy and better
services.
Injuries
and Disabilities (Blindness)
Increased life expectancy has contributed to
a rise in the population of older persons leading
to an increasing number of persons with disabilities.
Injuries are also increasing due to violence,
conflict and road traffic accident. The disabilities
include blindness due to cataract, trauma, etc.
Integrated programmes for prevention, control
and rehabilitation in all these areas are needed.
These issues were not adequately addressed and
WHO support in improving the situation will
be instrumental.
Mental
Health and Substance Abuse
Mental disorders impose a range of consequences
on the course and outcome of chronic conditions
such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
There is an expected rise in the burden of mental
and neurological disorders and substance abuse
primarily because of the projected increase
in the number of individuals entering the age
of risks for the onset of those disorders. Bangladesh
is ill equipped to deal with the burden. So,
it is necessary for the government to place
mental health and substance abuse on the health
and development agenda in order to formulate
and implement cost-effective responses to mental
disorders and substance abuse.
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