Staff Reporter : Heart diseases account for one in every five premature deaths worldwide, with hypertension being a leading cause. Although 80 percent of heart diseases and strokes are preventable, nearly 34 percent of all deaths in Bangladesh occur due to heart diseases. Ensuring access to anti-hypertensive medicine can significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Speakers highlighted such information and recommendations at a webinar titled “Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease Risk” on Sunday September 28, in observance of World Heart Day 2025. The webinar was organized by research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). This year’s theme for the day is “Don’t Miss a Beat.”
It was informed at the webinar that one in every four adults in Bangladesh is suffering from hypertension. According to the second Global Report on Hypertension 2025 by the World Health Organization (WHO), 283,000 people die of cardiovascular diseases every year in Bangladesh and 52 percent of these fatalities are attributable to hypertension. The report identifies access to medicines as the greatest opportunity to get hypertension under control and save millions of lives. WHO has also recently said that every hour, over 1000 lives are lost to strokes and heart attacks from hypertension, and most of these deaths are preventable.
Professor Dr. Abdullah Al Shafi Majumder, Former Director of National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease (NICVD), said, “Hypertension weakens the heart by narrowing blood vessels, reduces its efficiency, and increases the risk of heart attack. Early diagnosis and control of hypertension through medicine are vital to curb cardiovascular diseases.”
Dr. Geeta Rani Devi, Program Manager, Community Based Health Care (CBHC), said, “Despite some supply shortage, we are working to make anti-hypertensive medicines available at all Community Clinics under the Community Clinic Health Support Trust”
Professor Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury, Head of Department of Epidemiology & Research, National Heart Foundation informed at the webinar, “The central theme for this year’s World Heart Day is reducing the risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases. Strengthening hypertension control at the grassroots level can reduce the overall burden of heart disease.”
Dr. Abu Jamil Faisel, President Elect, Public Health Association of Bangladesh, said, “Reducing the risks of hypertension and heart disease requires the adoption and implementation of a comprehensive program involving active participation of the general public as well as professionals across different sectors.”
Dr. Malay Kanti Mridha, Professor of BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health of BRAC University, said, “Research shows that a 5 mmHg reduction in average systolic blood pressure at the population level could reduce stroke-related deaths by 14% and cardiovascular deaths by 9% in Bangladesh. We must act to achieve this target.”
Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI also attended the webinar as discussant. The webinar was chaired by PROGGA’s Executive Director ABM Zubair and moderated by PROGGA’s Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova. People of different professions from different regions of the country participated in the webinar.