Experts for increasing budgetary allocation to cut NCD-linked deaths

Health experts at a webinar today called for increasing budgetary allocation for the fiscal year of 2024-25 to cut deaths from non-communicable diseases.

PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress), a research and advocacy organization, today arranged the webinar titled “Budgetary allocation for prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)” marking the World Health Day to be celebrated tomorrow (April 7).

At the webinar, health experts blamed poor style and unhealthy dietary practices for increasing Non-Communicable Diseases in the country alarmingly, a press release said.

They said the World Health Organization (WHO) suggested 15 percent budgetary allocation for the health sector while Bangladesh allocated only 5 percent in the health sector for the fiscal year-2023-24.

Professor Dr Sohel Reza Chowdhury of Department of Epidemiology and Research, National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute laid emphasis on controlling high blood pressure to prevent non-communicable diseases.

He also urged the people to avoid consumption of excessive salt and unhealthy life style to protect themselves from the non-communicable diseases.

The World Health Day is a global health awareness day being observed every year on April 7 to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in order to provide the people with a unique opportunity to mobilize action around a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. (BSS)