Formulation of public health policies and amendment of tobacco control laws required to prevent non-communicable diseases

PRESS RELEASE: Currently the major health risk for Bangladesh is the growing non-communicable diseases. One of the main causes of these diseases is the widespread use of tobacco. To address this risk, tobacco use needs to be reduced by amending existing tobacco control laws. At the same time, it is important to formulate public health friendly policies at the national level, implement them properly and create public awareness.

Speakers at the National Seminar on ‘Engaging Parliamentarians in Controlling Non-Communicable Diseases’ held at Westin Hotel in the capital on Sunday stated this. The seminar was jointly organized by the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh and Shastho Surokkha Foundation.

Professor Dr. Habibe Millat MP presided over the seminar. The Speaker of National Parliament Dr. Shirin Sharmin Choudhury joined the seminar virtually as the chief guest.

In her speech, she said, we have to give utmost importance to the prevention of non-communicable diseases. For this, necessary laws and policies have to be formulated. Tobacco use is one of the reasons behind these diseases. Others, including women and children, are also affected by secondhand smoke. To protect public health, smoking should be stopped in public transport and public places. Strong tobacco control laws will play a role in reducing tobacco use.

At the seminar the President of the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh, National Professor Brig. (Rtd.) Abdul Malik, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Gabriela Cuevas Barron, Ambassador of Japan Naoki Ito, WHO Representative Dr. Bardan Jung Rana, President of the Kidney Foundation of Bangladesh, Professor Harun-ur-Rashid, Director General of DGHS, Prof. Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, and Bandana Shah, South Asia region director of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids joined virtually.

Dr. AT Nizam Uddin Ahmed the Executive Director of Shastho Surokkha Foundation delivered welcome speect at the seminar. Professor Sohel Reza Choudhury, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, presented the key note. In his speech, he highlighted the impact of non-communicable diseases on public health and the economy. He said public health-friendly laws and policies are needed to curb the growing risk of non-communicable diseases. Controlling tobacco use is one of the ways to prevent the growing risk of non-communicable diseases in Bangladesh. Therefore, the existing tobacco control law needs to be amended to strengthen tobacco control. It is also important to formulate policies on air pollution control, setting salt and trans-fat levels in industrial foods. At the same time, in order to prevent these diseases, it is necessary to raise awareness about adhering to healthy lifestyle in one’s life.

He said non-communicable diseases like heart disease and cancer were responsible for 67 per cent of the total deaths in Bangladesh at present. And tobacco alone is responsible for 19 percent of all deaths.

Professor Dr. Habibe Millat MP said that 22 per cent of all deaths in the country is prematured and non-communicable diseases like heart disease, cancer and kidney disease are responsible for this. Moreover, in the current COVID epidemic, patients with NCDs are at more risk. Therefore, non-communicable diseases must be dealt seriously. It is also important to implement universal health coverage for the treatment of these expensive diseases.

Among the members of parliament present at the seminar were Dr. A.F.M. Ruhal Haque, Begum Meher Afroz Chumki, Kazi Nabil Ahmed, Shirin Akhter, Pir Fazlur Rahman, Dr. Syeda Zakia Noor, Aroma Dutta, Umme Kulsum Smriti, Nahid Izahar Khan, Aparajita Haque, Shirin Akhtar, Nahim Razzak, Syeda Rubina Akhter Mira and Adiba Anjum Mita.

NEWS FROM Mahamud Setu. Media Manager, Anti-tobacco Program. National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh. #