Non-communicable diseases responsible for 67% of deaths: Health Minister

Health Minister Zahid Maleque has said that non-communicable diseases (DCDs) are responsible for 67 percent of deaths in the country.

He also said that non-communicable diseases are the cause of growing health risks and concerns for Bangladesh.

The Minister said this while speaking at the first National NCD Conference as chief guest in the c apital on Wednesday (January 26) night.

Zahid Maleque said, “In Bangladesh, 20 percent of people have been suffering from high blood pressure, 10 percent from diabetes and nearly two million from cancer. At least 50,000 more people being newly added with different diseases every year.”

Regarding reasons for this, Zahid Maleque said NCDs are increasing due to changes in eating habits including life cycle, obesity, excessive tobacco use, environmental pollution, inadequate physical activity, drug abuse etc. In this situation, there is no alternative to raising awareness among people about NCD prevention.

He further said regular physical checkups are very important in controlling NCDs. In addition, we need to increase treatment facilities and trained people in health sector.

The Minister said the government has taken sector based programmes to prevent NCDs. Specialized hospitals for cancer, kidney and heart diseases are being set up in eight divisions of the country. 10-bed dialysis and ICU beds are being set up in all the district hospitals of the country. NCD corners are being set up in all the hospitals of the country including upazila hospital.

The Minister also thanked the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Bangladesh Non-Communicable Diseases Forum and Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum for organizing the conference.

About the recent coronavirus he said NCD patients had been denied services in the past as hospitals were filled with Covid-19 patients. Death rate has also increased due to late service. Now the rate of Covid-19 positive in the country is 32 percent. Some 12,000 to 15,000 new cases are being registered daily.

The minister also urged all to wear masks, avoid public gatherings and get vaccinated to prevent the infection.