The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

More than 180 million people are now suffering from diabetes all over the world which is likely to be double by 2030.

Country's leading heath experts disclosed this in a round table held here on Monday adding that almost 80 percent of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle income countries.

The roundtable titled 'Primary prevention of diabetes: lets start from childhood' was held at the National Press Club in the city to mark the World Diabetes Day- 2008.

Acting Director General of Directorate General of Health Service Prof Dr Hosne Ara Tahmin addressed the roundtable as the chief guest while Dr M Mostafa Zaman of the WHO presided over it.

President of Bangladesh Pediatric Association (BPA) Prof M Abdul Hannan and Prof Kisware Azad addressed the roundtable as specials guests.

The function was also addressed, among others, by Head of Medicine Department of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital Prof Mohammad Abul Kashem Khandaker, Chairman of DAB Primary Prevention of Diabetes Mellitus Project Dr Tofayial Ahmed, Dr MA Sabur, Prof AKM Rafiquddin Ahmed, Prof Dr Shamim Ahmed, Prof MA Azhar.

Eminence, a non-government development organization, in association with World Health Organization (WHO) jointly organized the roundtable.

Assistant Director of the Eminence Dr Sultana Monira presented the keynote paper.

Prof Hosne Ara in her speech urged all to work together for prevention of diabetes with a view to keeping the people of the country healthy.

The diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases to affect children, Prof M Abdul Hannan said adding that they should be given opportunity for playing on open fields and discouraged to eat fast food.

Prof Kisware Azad said the number of the diabetes-affected children is increasing alarmingly. So, parents should be aware of the disease.

Dr Mostafa Zaman said a concerted programme should be taken to prevent diabetes in the country.

Dr Shamim Talukder said the prevalence rate of the disease is also significantly high in the slums in the urban areas of the country where 13 percent males and nine percent females are suffering from the disease.

Other speakers stressed the need for changing life-style for prevention of the diabetes. They said everybody should change food habit avoiding fast food and enhance physical exercise.