DHAKA: Around 6.4 million people of Bangladesh are falling to poverty every year due to meeting the expenses of medical treatment.

Moreover, a large number of people are not being able to bear expenses of treatments of diseases like cancer or kidney failure.

Speakers came up with the observations in a scientific seminar, organized by Public Health Foundation of Bangladesh (PHFBD), at ICDDR,B in city to celebrate its 3rd Public Health Foundation Day on December 7-8.

During the opening ceremony PHFBD chairman Professor M Muzaherul Huq said that people of Bangladesh are not receiving proper health services despite having sufficient health care institutions, physicians and other work forces.

He further said, “Many people do not even have the financial capacity to take treatment for diabetes and high blood pressure.  So, focus should be given more on prevention of diseases”.

A recent research report pointed out that of the injection drug users (IDUs), 27.6 percent addicts use same syringes and are at high risk for infection with several blood-borne pathogens, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Northern University public health department faculty member Dr Sazia Huq conducted the study in Dhaka this year to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice on HBV infection.

The study stated that 44.7 percent of the respondents practiced polygamy sex, and among them, 61.2 percent did not use protecting devices during intercourses.

A separate study, presented here, found correlation of infertility with smoking, depression, job stress, hypertension and diabetes.

Forty-five percent of the respondents said they were smokers. Of the respondents, 38.5 percent suffered from depression, 37.7 job stress, 36.5 percent high blood pressure, 26.9 percent diabetes and 24.4 percent family problems.

BDST: 1942 HRS, DEC 07, 2015
SR/RR/SMS