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Editorial

Life expectancy increases

We must maintain a healthy lifestyle for sound health


Bangladeshpost
Published : 18 Nov 2023 08:23 PM

It is indeed, good news for Bangladesh as the population’s average life expectancy has increased. We think our country has proved that it can now claim that only Bangladesh has the best health status in the South Asian countries.

The rate of child and maternal deaths has decreased. The average life expectancy of a population is an important indicator for assessing any health system.

Bangladesh Post on Saturday ran a story headlined ‘Bangladesh life expectancy highest in South Asia’ saying over the past 30 years from 1990, life expectancy in Bangladesh has increased from 58.2 to 74.6 years and age-standardised death rates have reduced by half in the country. The story narrated everything in detail.

Communicable diseases like tuberculosis, malaria and polio are on the verge of eradication while the treatment of diarrhea and pneumonia has improved. Health awareness activity has been continuing at the grassroots level across the country to help to achieve sustainable development goals.

On the other hand, the mortality rate has reduced by more than half in the period. We can say our country has achieved a praiseworthy success in the health sector. 

The government is now introducing advanced treatments for cancer, diabetes, and heart diseases. Simultaneously, non-communicable diseases have emerged as a new challenge in the country. 

Non communicable 

diseases have emerged

 as a new challenge 

in the country

The rate of those being affected by or dying from different types of non-communicable diseases - like cancer, diabetes and heart disease - is on the rise. So, if we want to have sound health and a long life we must have to change our food habits and lifestyle. 

If we can adapt a healthy lifestyle that will improve our mood, make us relaxed, ease our anxieties, and make us feel good. All know a healthy lifestyle and good food habits can only help us fight non-communal and chronic diseases as well. 

These habits can also reduce the risk of various diseases and health conditions, improve mood, and better memory. In this regard, we want to focus on the country’s remote areas where the rural people are very simple and straightforward. 

If they even suffer from illness, they first go to quack doctors and others and take medicine on their advice. As a result, they do not recover from the disease rather they suffer from various physical complications. 

So, the physicians and health employees of upazila health complexes and community clinics should encourage rural patients to go to them for treatment. In this regard, community clinics are now playing a crucial role in reducing child and maternal mortality rates, and women are also getting health services during their maternity period.

The grassroots people of Bangladesh are also now getting 30 types of medicines from there free of cost, while these facilities have created healthcare opportunities for marginal and poor people including rural women. Therefore, if we strictly maintain discipline in food habits and lifestyle, our population’s average life expectancy will reach a neigh height.