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The government has taken several initiatives to control non-communicable diseases (NCDs), like - diabetes, heart failure and cancer, as these diseases have appeared as a big concern in the country, said Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Thursday.
"The government has taken several initiatives to control and ensure proper management of non-communicable diseases in the country," he said at the first session of the first National Non-communicable Diseases Control Conference in the capital.
Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum along with 30 local and foreign organizations jointly arranged the event that started on Wednesday and would end today (Friday).
Mr Taposh noted that efforts were underway to build up eight cancer hospitals in eight divisional cities of the country. Besides, treatment of cardiac diseases had improved notably in the county.
People can get five types of medicines at the upazila-level hospitals following the government's initiatives for providing better healthcare services.
He lamented that Dhaka is one of the polluted cities across the globe with increased health risks.
"Apart from pollution, the non-communicable diseases in Bangladesh are now also a problem and burden."
The numbers of diabetic, heart and cancer patients are increasing alarmingly at present.
He also said the DSCC was cooperating with the Ministry of Health to face the challenges in tackling the NCDs.
The corporation was engaged to build more footpaths and parks in the capital to provide a good and healthy environment to the city dwellers.
"The DSCC is working as per its master plan. We are also working for development of two hospitals, being supervised by the city corporation," he said, adding that the government was working to free the country from tobacco by 2040.
Senior Scientific Officer of International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh (icddr,b) Dr Aleya Nahid, Country Director of Pure Earth Dr Mahfuzur Rahman, and Assistant Professor of Public Health at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Dr Fariha Hossain were present, among others, on the occasion.