Govt steps up efforts to tackle hypertension other NCDs

Staff Reporter :

The prevalence of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are surging rapidly, posing a severe threat to public health. To tackle this growing challenge, a substantial portion of the health sector’s budget should be directed towards combating hypertension.

Such demands were made at a workshop for journalists titled “Hypertension Control in Bangladesh: Progress, Challenges and Way Forward”, held on Tuesday at the BIP Conference Room in Dhaka.

The workshop was organized by research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). Twenty-six journalists working in print, television and online media participated in the workshop.

It was informed at the workshop that 35 ministries and divisions of the government have recently signed a Joint Declaration on NCDs to strengthen inter-ministerial cooperation. The initiative aims to adopt and implement a coordinated approach to prevent and control NCDs, which is highly commendable.

NCDs, including hypertension, account for 71% of all deaths in Bangladesh. To reduce this burden, it is vital to ensure uninterrupted supply of anti-hypertensive medicines at Community Clinics and Upazila Health Complexes across the country, supported by sustainable funding. Despite various challenges, the government has slightly increased the health sector’s budget for FY 2025-26 . Considering the escalating burden of NCDs, the workshop called for a further increase in this allocation.

Attending the workshop, Dr. Muhammad Habibur Rahman, Line Director, Community Based Health Care (CBHC), said, “The government is working to ensure an uninterrupted supply of anti-hypertensive medicines across the country. While there have been temporary challenges due to the operational plan not being functional, very soon the availability of medicines will be ensured in all Upazila Health Complexes and Community Clinics.”

Morshed Noman, Editor, Spotlightnews24; Ezinne Ezekwem, Associate Director, Non-Communicable Diseases, GHAI; Mortuza Haider Liton, Convener, Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA); Nadira Kiron and Mizan Chowdhury, both Co-Convenors of ATMA; and ABM Zubair, Executive Director, PROGGA, were present at the workshop as discussants. PROGGA’s Director Md. Shahedul Alam and Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova delivered presentations on hypertension control.