Combined combat launched against killer NCDs

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus called for a coordinated national movement involving government, private sector and civil society against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as a combined combat began against the menace which he termed the single-largest threat to Bangladesh's public health and socioeconomic development.

He made the appeal Wednesday while speaking at the signing ceremony of a Joint Declaration on Inter-Ministerial Cooperation for NCD Prevention and Control, highlighting the urgency of collaboration across all sections of society to prevent and control the growing hazardous of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and other NCDs.

The government brought together 35 ministries and divisions to formally sign the Joint Declaration on 'Strengthening Inter-ministerial Cooperation to Undertake and Implement Coordinated Actions for the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs)'.

The event was attended by a number of advisers of the post-uprising government for different ministries, including Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, Special Assistant Prof Dr Sayedur Rahman, Advisers to the Chief Adviser and the Director of Programme Management of the World Health Organisation Southeast Asia Region (WHO SEARO).

"In order to build a skilled and productive workforce, which is essential for national progress, we must ensure a healthy generation. No matter how challenging the circumstances, we cannot compromise on this," Prof Yunus told the gathering.

Citing World Health Organisation (WHO) data, the head of interim government noted that 71 per cent of all deaths in Bangladesh occur owing to NCDs, and more than half of these deaths take place before the age of 70, which he termed "premature mortality."

He also reminded of the financial hardship caused by NCDs, citing that 69 per cent of personal- healthcare spending in Bangladesh comes directly out of pocket, much of it spent on expensive NCD treatments, sometimes abroad.

"Families often become financially devastated when a member suffers from cancer or other serious NCDs. The need to prevent these diseases is as urgent as improving treatment facilities," he told the meet.

He urged all signatory ministries to integrate NCD prevention in their respective plans and pledged that the government would give this initiative high priority.

"Today's declaration must not remain symbolic. It is a collective commitment. Through its implementation, public-health protection in Bangladesh will become more dynamic and serve as a milestone towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and post-SDG health agenda," he added.

The Chief Adviser praised the WHO's Bangladesh office for its critical support in organising the event, especially in the wake of the post-August-5th transition.

The declaration, signed by key ministries, including Health, Agriculture, Food, Education, Sports, Local Government, and Public Works, is expected to lay the foundation for a multi-sectoral national framework to address the rising burden of NCDs in Bangladesh.

In addition, Senior Secretaries and Secretaries of 35 ministries and divisions, including the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary, senior government officials, and representatives of the WHO and development partners attended the event.

The Joint Declaration builds on the high-level policy-advocacy meeting convened by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) on 3 June 2025, where more than 30 ministries acknowledged the urgent need for strengthened inter-ministerial coordination to prevent and control NCDs, mental health conditions, and injuries.

This landmark signing aligns with Bangladesh's commitments under Sustainable Development Goal 3 and the upcoming 2025 UN Political Declaration on NCDs, setting a precedent for national, regional, and global action.

A high-level meeting on the prevention and control of Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health and Wellbeing is scheduled to convene in the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September 2025.

On the eve of the upcoming UN General Assembly, this joint declaration is highly expected to focus Bangladesh health sector on the global platform and create investment opportunity for health and wellbeing, especially the prevention and control of NCDs.

In addition, this joint declaration is considered an instrument to expedite the way of achieving the goals and targets of health-related SDGs and Universal Health Coverage by 2030.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com