Tale of Endurance

Muhammad Humayun Kabir
Honorable Secretary
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

I am delighted to know that NCD unit of DGHS is bringing out a bi-lingual newsletter titled “Tale of Endurance” and “Beche Thakar Golpo” and developing website (www.bdncdnet.com) to strengthen networks for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

In Bangladesh we are apparently more concern about communicable diseases than NCDs mainly due to lack of knowledge. NCDs as defined by World Health Organization include chronic diseases, principally cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and asthma/chronic pulmonary disease (COPD), in addition to injuries and mental illness. Development of national plan is of utmost importance regarding NCDs as we have become accustomed to unhealthy lifestyle, a major source of such diseases.

I hope that this tri-monthly newsletter and web site will promote NCDs activities in Bangladesh and prepare grounds for NCDs UN Summit 2011 through partnership with NCD Alliance, WHO and local stakeholders.