No alternative to coordinated action to prevent eye disease: Health minister

Expanding medical services alone is not enough to prevent eye disease and protect eye health; coordinated, multifaceted awareness initiatives are also needed, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has said.

Health risks such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease must also receive serious attention, he said.

The minister made the remarks on Sunday (8 November) at a workshop titled “Validation and Finalisation of the Multisectoral Action Plan for Eye Health in Bangladesh” at a hotel in the capital.

The health minister said eye health is closely linked to various non-communicable diseases. Diabetes, in particular, can damage the eyes and kidneys and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. These diseases therefore cannot be viewed in isolation, he said, stressing the need for coordinated treatment and preventive measures to protect people’s overall health.

He also said everyone must regularly look after their health and remain aware of it. Rather than focusing solely on treating eye disease, efforts must raise public awareness of overall health risks.

To this end, the minister stressed the importance of forming effective groups or platforms bringing together specialists in different diseases. Such platforms could enable joint efforts to prevent disease, raise public awareness and ensure necessary medical care, he said.

He said coordinated initiatives could help make people aware in advance of serious health risks, such as damage to the eyes and kidneys caused by diabetes, or stroke resulting from high blood pressure.