Treatment must be ensured at grassroots level: Speakers

Experts have emphasised on providing hypertension treatment at the grassroots level considering the increasing number of patients of the disease.

They said the hypertension situation in Bangladesh is very alarming as one in every five adults in Bangladesh suffers from hypertension. Availability of hypertension medicines must be ensured at the community clinic level to make hypertension treatment accessible to the entire population of the country and necessary budget allocation also must be ensured in this regard.

Research and advocacy organisation Progga organised the discussion, titled “Hypertension Situation in Bangladesh and Way Forward”, in collaboration with Global Health Advocacy Incubator at BMA Bhaban in Dhaka on Tuesday.

This year the World Hypertension Day will be observed under the theme “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer”.

Speakers said the prevalence of hypertension and hypertension-related various non-communicable diseases and deaths are growing increasingly in Bangladesh. Ensuring availability of hypertension treatment facilities at community clinic level can be a cost-effective approach in this regard. Community Clinic Health Support Trust Vice Chairperson Makhduma Nargis said, “To reduce the prevalence of hypertension, preventive measures must be strengthened along with the provision of treatment facilities from community clinics.”

SM Mustafa Zaman, professor at Department of Cardiology at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said, “The prevalence of hypertension can be reduced through the implementation of hypertension management guidelines and combined effort.”

Dr Md Quiume Talukder, line director of Community Based Health Care under the Directorate General of Health Services, said, “The prime minister has made a commitment to ensure the medicines for patients with diabetes and hypertension at the country’s community clinics. A proposal has already been sent to the authorities concerned regarding this issue. We are optimistic about its speedy approval.”