RAJSHAHI, Feb 26, 2024 (BSS)-Generating awareness among the public in general can be the best way for reducing mortalities caused by non-communicable diseases (NCD), particularly hypertension and diabetes, to a greater extent.

The Government has opened NCD corner at many Upazila Health Complexes and provides healthcares coupled with distributing medicines to the patients suffering from hypertension and diabetes free of cost.

Utmost emphasis should be given on reaching the messages of the services to the targeted people in grassroots and the role of the community level health service providers and members of the community group is very important in this regard.

Medical practitioners and experts came up with the observation while conducting sessions of a daylong training for the health service providers at community level on strengthening referral for NCD patients and providing lifestyle advice for the community level.

NCD Control Programme of the Ministry of Health and National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh (NHFB) organized the training at Paba Upazila Health Complex on Sunday supported by Resolve to Safe Life.

Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Rabeya Bashri, NHFB Divisional Programme Officer Khandeker Ehsanul Amin Emon and Surveillance Medical Officer Dr Al Amin conducted the training sessions disseminating their expertise on the issue.

The trainees were informed that hypertension is one of the three major causes of mortality and morbidity in Bangladesh. One in every five adults is seen suffering from hypertension.
 
Hypertension, diabetes, obesity and having unhealthy diets are blamed for the alarming rise of the diseases.
 
Some other factors include lack of exercise as well as habit of eating fast food, taking soft drinks or various drugs and drinking alcohol as largely responsible for heart ailments.
 
Dr Rabeya Bashri said modification of life-style, proper control of blood glucose and hypertension and treatment of lipid disorders can help manage the risk factors of heart attack and stroke.
 
High blood pressure is known as "the silent killer" as it remains without symptoms in most of the individuals.

Ehsanul Amin said they have registered 37,323 patients suffering from the hypertension after screening 1,22,805 suspected ones in 25 upazilas of Rajshahi, Pabna and Sirajganj districts till December, 2023. 
 
He, however, said many of the registered patients are now reporting controlled blood pressure during their most recent visits across 25 Upazila Health Complexes (UHCs).

Ehsanul Amin also said the government has recently taken a decision to include the medicines for hypertension and diabetes in the drug list of community clinics (CC) to ensure primary health care at the door steps of common people in rural areas.
 
CC can be the crucial means of supplying anti-hypertensive drugs among the patients concerned at the grassroots level.