Presses on introducing  four risk factors for preventing NCDs

The experts have given emphasis on addressing four risk factors to preventing deaths caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPDs).

The four risk factors are avoiding smoking, avoiding alcohol, eating nutritional foods and having a healthy lifestyle.

They came up with the observations while addressing a press briefing here in Dili, capital of Timor-Leste today after the formal inauguration of 68th Session of WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia.

Timor-Leste Prime Minister Dr Rui Maria de Araojo inaugurated the meeting of the regional committee, the highest policy making body of World Health Organization (WHO) in the region, this morning at the Dili Convention Center.

Flanked by WHO South-East Asia Regional Director, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Timorese Health Minister Dr Maria do Ceu Sarmento Pina da Costa and Hans Troedsson, the Timorese premier inaugurated the session.

Health ministers and policymaker of this sector from nine out of the total eleven member nations of the regional committee were present on the occasion. Apart from them, health experts from around the globe were there at the function.

State minister for health Zahid Maleque, MP, was there heading the
Bangladeshi delegation.

Dr Poonam in her inaugural speech said in 2012, 62 percent of deaths in South-East Asia Region were caused by NCDs; of these, 48 percent occur in those aged below 70 years.

"We know that tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable deaths. Worldwide, tobacco use kills nearly six million people annually with over 6 lakh deaths due to second hand smoke. In the WHO South-East Asia Region, the toll of death is estimated to be over 1.3 million," she said.

While highlighting the brighter side, the WHO South-East Asia region boss said Bangladesh, Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand consistently achieve and maintain high routine immunization coverage.

"Last year, at the Dhaka meeting, the ministers of five member states, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Thailand signed a MoU for the elimination of Kala-azar. Since then those countries have redoubled their efforts and are making notable progress towards the elimination goal," she said.