WHO supported Government of Bangladesh to adopt multisectoral action plan for prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, a strategy spanning from 2018 to 2025 and involving nearly 30 ministries and agencies.
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are one of the most urgent and complex public health challenges in Bangladesh. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases are responsible for 67% of all deaths in Bangladesh, many of which are premature. Premature deaths and disability from NCDs result in adverse financial and social consequences for individuals, families and the nation.
The national multisectoral action plan sets priorities for main stakeholders, being built in accordance with key programming documents such as the 7th Five Year Plan and the 4th Health, Nutrition and Population Strategic Investment Plan (HNPSIP) of the Government of Bangladesh. The action plan will be implemented in two phases, beginning with a focused three-year operational plan from 2018 to 2021.
The multisectoral action plan is built on the evidence based approach that public policies of diverse sectors have an impact on health. In this regard, the health sector shall assume a central role in guiding, mobilizing and obtaining commitments from other sectors to develop policies which address shared risk factors for NCDs such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol, and exposure to poor indoor air quality.
Following the adoption of the plan, the first meeting of the National Multisectoral NCD Coordination Committee (NMNCC) was held in November 2018. Chaired by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, several key decisions were taken in the meeting, including increasing human resources for the secretariat of the NMNCC, concluding memoranda of understanding with ministries of education and local government, and establishing local multisectoral coordination committees.
For ensuring the sustainability and feasibility of the plan, the actions and activities are following the efficiency principle of implementing low cost measures with high health impact and are categorized into four major strategic areas: advocacy, leadership and partnerships; health promotion and risk reduction; health systems strengthening for early detection and management of NCDs and their risk factors; surveillance, monitoring, evaluation, and research.
The current action plan follows the successful implementation of past NCD control and prevention programmes and fulfills commitments that the Government of Bangladesh has made to the United Nations General Assembly at successive high level meetings on NCDs.
WHO remains committed to supporting the Government of Bangladesh to implement this plan and the much needed solutions to secure the health, social and economic wellbeing of the present and future generations of Bangladesh.
