DHAKA, Oct 22, 2024 (BSS) - Speakers at a journalists' workshop today stressed the need of ensuring availability of anti-hypertensive drugs in all healthcare facilities at the grassroots to combat the current prevalence of hypertension.

At the same time, sustainable funding is also required for an uninterrupted supply of the medicine, he said.

The speakers brought up the issue at the workshop "Hypertension Control in Bangladesh: Progress and Way Forward" held in the city's BMA Bhaban, said a press release.
 
They also said that number of people suffering from hypertension in Bangladesh is increasing rapidly, referring to the latest Bangladesh NCD STEPS Survey 2022, which showed one in every four adults suffers from hypertension at present, an upward trend from the previous prevalence of one in five.

Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), Zahirul Alam, Head of News, NTV and ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA also spoke at the workshop. 

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

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

At the workshop it was mentioned that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart diseases, stroke, cancer, kidney diseases, respiratory diseases, diabetes, and hypertension, are the most prevalent causes of death in Bangladesh and account for 70 percent of the total deaths. 

The risk of hypertension and other NCDs can't be effectively addressed without increasing allocation in this sector.