Expanding medical services alone is not enough to ensure eye health; coordinated awareness programmes and preventive healthcare initiatives involving multiple sectors are also essential, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain said on Sunday.

He called for coordinated efforts by the health sector and all relevant stakeholders to achieve this goal.

The minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a workshop titled 'Review and Finalisation of the Multisectoral Action Plan for Eye Health in Bangladesh' at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka.

He urged people to remain vigilant about their health, stressing that eye health must be addressed as part of a broader approach to preventing and managing diseases.

He said diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease were closely linked to eye health and could not be addressed effectively in isolation.

Diabetes, in particular, increases the risk of heart disease and stroke while also causing damage to the eyes and kidneys, he noted.

The minister said the government alone could not ensure healthcare for everyone and stressed the need to raise awareness at all levels of society.

He also pointed out that cataract surgery remained unaffordable for many people, urging physicians to work together to strengthen disease prevention, early detection and eye care services.

Sakhawat called for effective platforms involving specialists from different medical fields to promote public awareness, prevent diseases and ensure coordinated healthcare services.

Such initiatives would help people identify serious health risks at an early stage, including eye and kidney complications from diabetes and strokes linked to high blood pressure, he added.

The workshop was chaired by A N M Moinul Islam, Additional Secretary of the Health Services Division.