DHAKA, Nov 13, 2019 (BSS) – The World Diabetes Day will be observed
tomorrow in the country as elsewhere in the world in a befitting manner to
make the people aware about diabetes.
This year’s theme of the day is “Come, keep our family Diabetes free”.
On the eve of the World Diabetes Day, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages urging all concerned to work
together for creating awareness among the people about diabetes.
In his message, President Abdul Hamid said the number of diabetic
patients is increasing in Bangladesh like other countries of the world
because of changes in lifestyle and food habit and lack of physical labour.
According to the specialists, the number of diabetic patients is also
increasing due to unplanned pregnancy, the President said, adding “As a
result, diabetes has emerged as a concern for about each family in Bangladesh
like other countries across the globe”.
“So, I think this year’s theme of the Day is a time befitting one,” he
added.
The President stressed the need for creating awareness to prevent
diabetes and called upon Bangladesh Diabetic Association, other private
organizations, civil society and media to come forward in this regard.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said the Awami League
government is implementing a pro-people health policy to ensure the health
care services for the countrymen.
“We have set up new medical colleges, dental colleges, nursing colleges,
nursing institutes, medical assistant training schools and health technology
institutes across the country,” she said, adding that healthcare services and
the number of beds in the general and specialized hospitals were also
increased in a large scale.
To reach healthcare services to the doorstep of the rural people, about
18,500 community clinics and union healthcare centers were set up across the
country, the primer said, adding that 30 types of medicines are being given
to the people free of cost.
Sheikh Hasina said the Bangladesh Diabetic Association is implanting
various programmes on preventing diabetes and creating awareness on this
disease. The association has launched service centers across the country,
including the capital to provide free medical checkups to pregnant mothers,
she added.
Both the President and Prime Minister wished all the day’s programmes a
success.
Diabetics Association of Bangladesh and other organizations arranged
different programmes to mark the Day.
According to the latest International Diabetes Federation (IDF) figures,
there are currently 425 million people living with diabetes and the total is
expected to rise to 629 million by 2045.
Some 75 percent of people with diabetes live in low – and middle-income
countries and half of people living with diabetes are undiagnosed.