Public health experts emphasized the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle and ensuring access to hypertension medicine at the grassroots level to reduce the risk of hypertensive heart diseases. These discussions took place during a webinar organized by research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) on World Heart Day 2023.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) continue to claim millions of lives worldwide each year, with hypertension being a significant contributing factor. Despite the preventable nature of 80% of heart disease fatalities in Bangladesh, the prevalence of heart diseases and the number of related deaths are still increasing in the country.
Alarmingly, one in every four adults in Bangladesh is suffering from hypertension, as reported during the webinar. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) first Global Report on Hypertension 2023 stated that 273,000 people die from cardiovascular diseases annually in Bangladesh, with 54% of these fatalities attributed to hypertension. Additionally, the report revealed that half of individuals aged 30-79 years with hypertension are unaware of their condition, and only 38% of those receiving medical treatment for hypertension.
Professor Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury, Head of the Department of Epidemiology & Research at the National Heart Foundation, highlighted the significance of controlling hypertension to reduce the prevalence of heart diseases. Dr. Farzana Akter Dorin, the National Professional Officer at WHO Bangladesh Office, emphasized the need to strengthen the primary healthcare system and ensure the availability of free hypertension medicine as measures to reduce the risk of heart diseases.
Implementing the decision to provide hypertension medicine from Community Clinics was deemed crucial by Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI. The webinar served as a platform for professionals from various regions of Bangladesh to participate and contribute to the discussions on combating hypertensive heart diseases.
Sources:
– World Health Organization (WHO)
– PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress)
– Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI)