Health adviser stresses disease prevention over treatment through awareness
She urged people to change their dietary habits, particularly advising residents of Chattogram to reduce beef consumption and avoid betel leaf, zarda and cigarettes
Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum today (13 December) underscored the need to prioritise disease prevention through public awareness, warning that expanding hospital facilities alone will not be enough to cope with the growing number of patients.
"Even if we turn the whole of Bangladesh into hospitals, it will not be possible to accommodate patients unless we focus on prevention," she said. "Doctors, nurses and ordinary people, wherever we are, must work to raise awareness so that prevention takes precedence over treatment."
She made the remarks while inaugurating the construction of the Chattogram Heart Foundation Hospital and Nursing Institute building at Kattoli in the city, following visits and discussion meetings earlier in the day at the Lions Charity Eye Hospital and the Chattogram Kidney Foundation Hospital, according to a press release.
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The health adviser said Bangladesh has fallen behind in achieving targets under the Sustainable Development Goals and called for coordinated efforts beyond political or group differences to move the sector forward. "We are probably in government for only two more months. It is a very short time. Still, we will try to meet your requirements as much as possible within this period," she said.
At a discussion meeting at the Chattogram Kidney Foundation Hospital, Nurjahan Begum described the dialysis shortage in Chattogram and across Bangladesh as a serious problem, noting that the high cost of treatment puts patients under severe financial pressure. In this context, she said, prevention can play a more critical role than treatment.
She urged people to change their dietary habits, particularly advising residents of Chattogram to reduce beef consumption and avoid betel leaf, zarda and cigarettes.
During her visit, the adviser spoke in detail with patients at the Lions Charity Eye Hospital about healthcare services and inspected the operation theatre at the Chattogram Kidney Foundation Hospital.
The inauguration ceremony of the Chattogram Heart Foundation Hospital and Nursing Institute building was presided over by MA Salam, president of the Chattogram Heart Foundation. Special guests included Daily Azadi Editor MA Malek, foundation executive committee vice-president SM Abu Taiyab and Prof Dr Prabir Kumar Dash of Chattogram Medical College and Hospital.
