Protecting eye health needs coordinated awareness, not just treatment

Expanding treatment services alone is not enough to protect people's eye health across the country; what is needed is coordinated and multi-faceted awareness activity. Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain called on all concerned parties to work together alongside the health sector for this.

He said that to reduce the risk of eye disease, it is not enough to think only about eye health; overall health risks including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease must also be considered together. Everyone must be regularly careful and aware about their own health.

He said this while speaking as chief guest at a workshop titled 'Validation and Finalisation of the Multisectoral Action Plan on Eye Health in Bangladesh' at a hotel in the capital on Sunday (November 8).

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

The health minister said it is not possible for the government alone to ensure everyone's health protection; awareness must be raised at all levels. Diabetes is increasing the risk of eye and kidney damage as well as heart disease and stroke.

On the other hand, cataract surgery is also expensive for many. So alongside disease prevention and early detection, he called on doctors to work unitedly to protect eye health.

Sakhawat Hossain further said diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, eye and kidney diseases are closely related to one another. As a result, considering these diseases in isolation and giving separate treatment alone cannot ensure people's overall health protection. Integrated treatment and preventive initiatives are needed.

The health minister said effective groups or platforms must be built with specialist doctors of various diseases. Through these platforms, public awareness must be raised jointly, disease prevented, and treatment services ensured.

As a result, people will be able to become aware in advance about serious health risks such as kidney and eye damage from diabetes or stroke from high blood pressure.

The workshop also presented eye health not merely as treatment, but as part of national development.

The workshop discussion ended with a call to strengthen coordinated awareness activities alongside expanding eye care services.