DHAKA, Sept 23, 2024 (BSS) - Speakers at a workshop today stressed the need for availability of medicine to control hypertension and death caused by non-communicable diseases. 

Sustainable funding is also required for an uninterrupted supply of the medicine, they said at the workshop arranged for journalists titled "Hypertension Control in Bangladesh: Progress and Way Forward", said a press release.

Research and advocacy organisation PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) organized the workshop where twenty-six journalists took part held at the capital's BMA Bhaban. 

At the workshop, it was revealed that one in every four adults in Bangladesh suffers from hypertension, which is one of the major risk factors for various non-communicable diseases, including heart diseases, stroke, cancer, kidney diseases, respiratory diseases and diabetes. 

The speakers highlighted that availability of anti-hypertensive medicine at the grassroots level along with increased allocation to effectively address hypertension can prevent heart attacks and strokes and ultimately save lives. 

Research showed that investing Taka one for hypertension screening and medicines can yield an overall benefit worth Taka 18, the press release added.

Dr. Md. Quiume Talukder, Line Director (CBHC), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said, "We've already taken the initiative to provide anti-hypertensive medicines from the Community Clinics of two-thirds of the upazilas across the country."

Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI, Rashada Akter Shimul, Senior News Editor of Ekhon TV and ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA also spoke. 

PROGGA's Director Md. Shahedul Alam and Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova delivered presentations on hypertension control.