The Honorary Director of Pothikrit Centre for Health Studies (PCHS) at Dhaka, Prof Dr. Liaquat Ali on Monday said among the non-communicable diseases (NCD), primarily heart and lung diseases, stroke, cancers and diabetes – are the world’s largest killers with estimated 38 million deaths annually.
While addressing as the keynote speaker at an International Symposium on Prevention Strategies on NCDs in USTM, Dr Ali said, “if we reduce the global impact of risk factors, we can go a long way” in reducing the number of deaths worldwide.
The international symposium was jointly organised by the University College of Physiotherapy & Research, USTM and Dhaka-based Pothikrit Centre of Health Sciences in Bangladesh.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. Habibul Islam, Dean, School of Allied Medical Sciences, USTM.
The programme was both stimulating and informative. Nearly 200 persons attended the event which included doctors, assistant professors, associate professors,students of physiotherapy and microbiology, informed Rani Pathak Das, PRO, USTM.
The dignitaries present in the inaugural included Dr. Ratna Talukdar, Principal-cum-Chief Superintendent, Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH); Dr Tribeni Sarma, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, GMCH; Dr. Masfida Akhter, Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Dhaka.
Dr. Kanika K. Baruah, Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, GMCH spoke on the epidemics related to NCD including obesity,hypertension, and diabetes becoming public health challenges in India.
She added that improper dietary behaviour coupled with sedentary lifestyle fuels the epidemic.
To prevent further problems, she emphasised on improving dietary patterns of the globe, to reduce smoking. Dr. Mosfida Akhter spoke on types and causes of diabetes.
She discussed about the pharmacological drugs available and its effects and its side effects. She explained the non-pharmacological agents such as food and plants with low glycemic index.
She also added that mixing lentil and vegetables with carbohydrates decreases the glycemic load and index.Prof Dr Bishnupada Sharma spoke on the importance of traditional medicines on NCDs.
He added that role of Arjuna, Triphala, and many other herbs in the treatment of lifestyle disorders.