PROGGA, a Bangladesh-based research organisation, identified hypertension was alarmingly on the rise in Bangladesh, with less than one in seven individuals managing to control their condition.

Although the provision of free medication has already commenced to tackle the prevalence of hypertension, it is essential to ensure its availability in all grassroots healthcare facilities to effectively reduce hypertension-related non-communicable diseases and deaths, it said.

Additionally, sustainable funding is required for an uninterrupted supply of this medicine.

These insights and recommendations were discussed at a virtual workshop for journalists titled ‘Hypertension Control in Bangladesh: Progress and Way Forward’ held on Saturday.

The workshop was organised by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator.

Twenty-six journalists from the Sylhet division, representing print, electronic, and online media, participated in the workshop.

It was highlighted during the workshop that one in every four adults in Bangladesh suffers from hypertension, making it a major risk factor for various non-communicable diseases, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, kidney disease, respiratory diseases, and diabetes.

Ensuring the availability of anti-hypertensive medication at the grassroots level, alongside increased funding to effectively address hypertension, can prevent heart attacks and strokes, ultimately saving lives.

Hypertension is one of the three leading causes of death and disability in Bangladesh.

ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA, was present at the event as a discussant.

PROGGA’s Director, Md Shahedul Alam, and Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova, delivered presentations on hypertension control.