Public health experts and physicians at a webinar have said that about 67 per cent of deaths in Bangladesh are currently happening due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes. If the diseases are not prevented, the overall progress of the country will be hampered, they added.
They opined that those outside the health sector must also take responsibility for controlling the NCDs. In this situation, the local government bodies in the country can play a vital role.
The speakers of the webinar called upon the authorities of the local government bodies to come forward for playing a vital role to prevent the NCDs. Bangladesh Cancer Society, Center for Law and Policy Affairs (CLPA) and Citizen Network jointly arranged the webinar on Tuesday (February 1) night. Prof Dr Golam Mohiuddin Farooq, Project Director of Bangladesh Cancer Society, moderated the event while Prof Dr AFM Sarwar, Research Consultant of CLPA, delivered the keynote address at the webinar. In his keynote address, Prof Dr AFM Sarwar said that there are about 16 laws in the country to ensure gymnasiums and open spaces in light of research on NCDs. However, the health aspects are not important in the implementation of these laws. The ministries concerned and the local government bodies should come forward to implement the laws.
