Public health experts, healthcare professionals, academicians, researchers and civil society advocates have called for laying emphasis on the public health system as well as promoting preventive measures in Bangladesh than curative healthcare in order to improve the health status.
Speaking at a conference on public health, they said that the issues related to prevention of diseases and welfare of people of the country should be given more importance.
During a presentation at the conference, Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin, secretary at the Center for Law and Policy Affairs (CLPA), said that the healthcare service in Bangladesh must be improved through giving importance on the public health as well as preventive healthcare, which is cost-effective rather than curative healthcare.
He also said that treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is very expensive. Consumption of fresh vegetables, physical activity and dietary changes are necessary for prevention of NCDs. This will reduce the cost of treatment. Different laws and policies in this regard should be reformed and updated, while coordination among various ministries, departments and others are also necessary to ensure safe food and environment in favour of public health, he added.
The Faculty of Public Health of the Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS) in collaboration with the Directorate General of Medical Education organised the ‘9th Regional Public Health Conference-2022’ on its campus in Dhaka. The two-day conference ended on Saturday (February 26).
With the theme “Access to Health and Wellbeing for All”, a number of scientific paper sessions, symposiums and plenary sessions were held in the conference. About 400 public health professionals, physicians, academicians and researchers took part in the events.
Dr Shahanaz Chowdhury, an associate professor & head of the Dept of Community Medicine of BUHS; and Palash Chandra Banik, an assistant professor at the Department of NCD of BUHS; and some others coordinated the sessions.
The closing ceremony was held on Saturday afternoon (February 25). Prof Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), attended the session as the chief guest.
Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin, a public health and environment policy expert; delivered the presentation on behalf of the CLPA at a scientific paper session on Saturday. He discussed on promoting healthy diet and justification on law and policy situation in Bangladesh. He also discussed on the issue- law and policy gap analysis to promote physical activity in Bangladesh.
Prof Dr Kamrul Hasan, former vice-chancellor of BSMMU chaired the session, while Prof Dr AFM Sarwar, a research consultant and health professional, who is also the former vice principal of Dhaka Dental College, Dr Khondokar Abdullah Al Mamun, a professor at United International University and founder of CMED Health Ltd; Dr SM Salauuddin Al Azad, a professor at Mandy Dental College; Dr Mohammad Azmain Iktidar, a faculty member of Dept of Public Health at North South University among others, took part in subject-based discussion in the session.
However, the inaugural ceremony of the conference was held at the university’s conference hall on Friday morning (February 26).
Prof Dr Md Anower Hussain, dean of the Faculty of Public Health at BUHS, chaired the inauguration ceremony. Md Ashadul Islam, former senior secretary of Planning Division of the Planning Ministry, Prof Dr Faridul Alam, vice-chancellor of BUHS, Prof Shah Monir Hossain, president of Public Health Association of Bangladesh, Dr AM Parvez Rahim, joint secretary of Health Ministry and many other researchers and experts on public health spoke on the occasion on the first day.
Addressing the conference, Md Ashadul Islam said that public health experts and medical specialists would definitely contribute to the improvement of the global healthcare delivery systems by sharing their innovative ideas, proven knowledge and experience.
BUHS VC Prof Dr Faridul Alam said that 80 percent diabetes, heart and blood pressure-related diseases might be reduced by creating awareness among the people, and public health professionals of the country are significantly contributing to prevent people from health hazards.
