The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) organised a two-day workshop on the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on July 1-2 under the initiative of its Global Health Emergency Response Wing.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam attended the workshop as the chief guest, while Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam was present as the special guest.
The workshop was chaired by Additional Foreign Secretary (Public Diplomacy and Other Priority Issues) A.K.M. Shahidul Karim.
Additional Secretary of the World Health Wing at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Sheikh Momina Moni and Joint Secretary Md Mamunur Rashid attended as guest speakers. Dr Farzana Dorin, National Professional Officer at the World Health Organization (WHO) Bangladesh Country Office, presented the keynote paper and conducted the training sessions.
On the first day, a WHO training module on preventing non-communicable diseases was presented for directors, directors general and senior officials of the Foreign Ministry. A separate session on the same subject was held on the second day for assistant secretaries and senior assistant secretaries.
In her address, State Minister Shama Obaed Islam stressed the importance of promoting mental and physical well-being, healthy eating habits, personal hygiene and creating a health-friendly workplace to prevent non-communicable diseases.
She also highlighted the need to ensure a supportive and women-friendly working environment.
The state minister said preventing non-communicable diseases is no longer only a national concern but a global challenge, underscoring the importance of high-level health meetings organised by the World Health Organization and the United Nations. She emphasised Bangladesh's active participation in such global initiatives.
Welcoming the workshop, she thanked the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the WHO for organising the awareness-building initiative.
Addressing the workshop, Sheikh Momina Moni outlined the background, objectives and significance of the joint declaration on preventing non-communicable diseases.
Joint Secretary Md Mamunur Rashid highlighted the government's ongoing initiatives and awareness programmes to prevent NCDs, undertaken under the guidance of the Prime Minister and the leadership of the Health and Family Welfare Minister.
Dr Farzana Dorin briefed participants on international experiences, prevention strategies and global best practices in combating non-communicable diseases during her presentation of the WHO training module.