DHAKA, Jan 25, 2022 (BSS) – The first national non-communicable diseases (NCDs) conference begins here today with an aim to diagnose non-communicable diseases, develop its treatment facilities and raise mass awareness.

The non-infectious diseases have been increasing globally including Bangladesh while people's prevention capacity has also been declining significantly, said  member secretary of the organizing committee of the conference Dr Shamim Haider Talukder while addressing a virtual press conference on Monday.

Consequently, various sides of the non-communicable diseases will also be discussed in the conference.

Public health experts including Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, Planning Minister MA Mannan, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Nur Taposh, among others, will address the conference. 

A total of 30 different national and international organizations including Non-Communicable Diseases Control Programme (NCDC), Bangladesh Non-Communicable Diseases Forum (BNCDF), Bangladesh Clinical Research Platform and Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (ICDDR’B), Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka University and Popular Medical College will jointly arrange the conference.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease (CVDs), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and mental illnesses, are the significant and increasing causes of illnesses, disability and deaths globally, Shamim said. 

For instance, of the 54?·?7 million global deaths in 2016, 39.5 million, or 72?·?3%, were due to NCDs, with majority occurring within low and lower-middle income countries.