Experts emphasizes on availability of anti-hypertension medicine in all healthcare facilities, especially at the grassroots level aiming to curve the hypertension in Bangladesh.
Experts made this urge during a workshop with Journalist on Tuesday.
The Bangladesh NCD STEPS Survey 2022 revealed that one in four adults in the country now suffers from hypertension, compared to one in five previously, highlighting the growing prevalence of the condition. Experts stressed that sustainable funding is needed to ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential medicines to control hypertension effectively.
The workshop, titled “Hypertension Control in Bangladesh: Progress and Way Forward,” was held at BMA Bhaban and organised by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). Twenty-six journalists from print, television, and online media participated in the event.
Speakers pointed out that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, kidney disease, respiratory illnesses, diabetes, and hypertension now account for 70% of deaths in Bangladesh. However, only 4.2% of the total health budget is allocated to combating NCDs, a figure experts called insufficient to address the rising health crisis.
“Without increased investment in this sector, the risk of hypertension and other NCDs cannot be effectively managed,” they warned.
The event featured discussions from Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI, Zahirul Alam, Head of News at NTV, and ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA. Presentations on hypertension control were delivered by PROGGA’s Director, Md. Shahedul Alam, and Coordinator, Sadia Galiba Prova.
Bd-Pratidin English/ Afsar Munna
