According to the International Diabetic Foundation (IDF), there are currently 5.9 million diabetics in the country. The Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, however, estimates that closer to 8.4 million people suffer from the chronic illness, half of whom are unaware of their disease status.
Moreover, 1.8 million people in Bangladesh have some form of diabetic retinopathy, a condition that afflicts 27% of diabetics, according to the IDF.
At a dissemination summit and strategic workshop on diabetic retinopathy yesterday, local and foreign experts speaking in the capital’s Krishibid Institute described the state of diabetes and its associated conditions in the country.
The programme was organised jointly by Helen Keller International, Bangladesh, and the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital.
Dr Meredith Jackson-deGraffenried, country director of Helen Keller International, Bangladesh, said: “Coordinated effort by the government, NGOs and other service providers is a must to prevent diabetes and diabetic retinopathy.
“We must work with the most disadvantaged people who have a lack of awareness, lack of opportunities and lack of ability to get the services they deserve, in both rural and urban areas.”
With 4.9 million deaths from diabetes globally in 2014, one person dies from the disease every seven seconds, according to the IDF.
At present, there are 387 million people – one in 12 people – throughout the world living with diabetes. This number is estimated to increase to 592 million by 2035.
Diabetes is spreading rapidly in South Asia. Some 77% of people with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries, experts said.
Speakers said diabetic retinopathy is a serious complication of diabetes which can lead to blindness if diabetes is poorly controlled. Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide.
Nicholas Kourgialis, vice president for eye health at Helen Keller International, said: “We must work hard to establish the right to see of everyone to reach the goal of VISION 2020 so that no one becomes blind. And we need to keep the strategy ahead that everyone is included in getting health and eye care services to fight against diabetes and diabetic retinopathy.”
The summit included a presentation titled “Scaling up Diabetic Retinopathy Services in Bangladesh.” The workshop discussed the emergence of diabetic retinopathy as a public health concern and the importance of diabetic retinopathy screening at the national and sub-national level. It also stressed developing strategies to address the future burden of the disease.
The event featured presentations from Helen Keller International, National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital, Chittagong Eye Infirmary and Training Complex, Islamia Eye Hospital, Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (Birdem), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and Lions Eye Institute and Hospital.
A panel of international speakers including Professor P N Nagpal of India, Dr Mahi Muqit of Moorfields Eye Hospital in the UK and Dr Nicholas Kourgialis, vice-president for eye health at Helen Keller International, USA, also spoke.
Dr Meredith Jackson-deGraffenried, country director of Helen Keller International, Bangladesh, and Prof Md Arif Miah, director and professor, National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital, and line director, National Eye Care, delivered the inauguration and welcome speech.
Professor AHM Enayet Hussain, line director for non-communicable disease control at the Directorate General for Health Services presented the keynote at the round table discussion on diabetic retinopathy.