In cooperation with the Research and Evaluation Division of BRAC, Copenhagen Consensus Center organized roundtable discussions with an aim to figure out smarter solutions to the most problematic issues facing Bangladesh.

1. Non-
Communicable
Diseases
Research Ideas
Dhaka
May 30, 2015

2. Bangladesh Priorities
WORKING WITH 30-50 economists including Nobel Laureates, 100+
sector experts engaging major development organizations, NGOs,
government, businesses, youths, rural and urban Bangladeshis to
identify, analyze and prioritize interventions that will deliver greater
benefit per taka spent, helping move Bangladesh towards Vision 2021
and a more prosperous long term future.

3. In cooperation with the Research
and Evaluation Division of BRAC,
Copenhagen Consensus Center
organized roundtable discussions
with an aim to figure out smarter
solutions to the most problematic
issues facing Bangladesh.
These roundtables are
one of several sources
for research ideas.
Sourcing ideas and solutions
Smarter solutions for Bangladesh
Complete set of papers
on 30-50 solutions
PRIORITIZATION
Government NGOs
Academia Pvt sector
Think tanks
Development
organizations
Eminent Panel
Assessment
Government and
donor seminars
Rural polls
Newspaper polls
among readers
Youth forums
across the country
Private sector
meetings
Social, economic and
environmental benefit-cost
research by top Bangladeshi,
and international economists
Extensive peer review by sector
experts and academics
100+ ideas on
policies & investments
20162015 Continuous
engagement with
the public via
electronic, print
and social media
Working with
civil society,
government and
sector experts
Widely
advocating
results of
prioritization
exercises
OUTREACH

4. Research Ideas

5. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs);
(1 of 6)
• Providing arsenic-free water to arsenic affected areas.
• Research on progress recorded in terms of increasing
arsenic-free water supply and the way forward.
• Raising awareness about the link between children’s
obsession with electronic gadgets and child obesity.
• Mandatory recreational space for physical exercise and
activities in residential areas.
• Vaccination for adults to combat Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Diseases (COPD).
• Motivating doctors to quit smoking to really inspire
other patients.

6. NCDs;
(2 of 6)
• Strengthen BSMMU’s role in dealing with cervical and
breast cancers.
• Provision of government fund for NCD research.
• Redesign curriculum for adolescent NCD education.
• Increasing counseling hours to detect addiction and to
improve understanding of a patient’s history.
• Adequate manpower training for cardiology.
• Specific excise tax on tobacco instead of the present
slab system.
• Awareness raising of tobacco consumption and its NCD
impact.

7. NCDs;
(3 of 6)
• Enforce anti-tobacco law.
• Reduce salt use at the cooking stage.
• Awareness on products’ contents, in particular, salt
proportions.
• Mandatory contents description on processed foods.
• Specific NCD programs for rural-urban adolescents.
• Scale up NCD detection Systems
• Promote healthy life practices through behavior change
communication programs.
• Female Welfare Assistant (FWAs) to disseminate NCDs
related information.
• Mobile, universal tests for screening breast cancers.

8. NCDs;
(4 of 6)
• More antenatal and neonatal care in Upazilas and
Unions.
• Oral, cervical and breast cancer tests to be done in one
place.
• Roll out cervical cancer vaccine.
• Raising awareness of rural health centers on NCDs.
• Create a national-level cancer database.
• Menstrual hygiene management initiatives to reduce
cervical cancer.

9. NCDs;
(5 of 6)
• Raise awareness of community health workers (CHWs)
on NCDs.
• All district medial colleges to engage in Upazila level
NCD awareness, right down to Union Parishads.
• NCD screening tests for returnee migrant workers.
• Urban health centers to deal with internal migrants’
NCDs.
• Impact of industrialization and unplanned urbanization
on NCDs.
• Prepare comprehensive strategies for preventing and
treating NCDs.
• Massive NCD health promotion and prevention efforts
for changing people's attitudes and behavior.

10. NCDs;
(6 of 6)
• Programs for coastal belt people being affected by
salinity (e.g. hypertension) and women in danger of
pregnancy complications (e.g. eclampsia).
• Awareness on neurodevelopment disorders (NDDs) in
districts and regions outside Dhaka.
• NDDs and autism should be equally prioritized.
• Campaign on Hepatitis B.
• Invest in multi-drug resistance TB.
• Mapping of existing comprehensive emergency
obstetrical care (CEmOC) services to ensure access
particularly for hard to reach areas.

11. Full List of Attendees and
Interviewees
Dr. Sohel Reza Chowdhury, Professor of Epidemiology,
National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research
Institute.
Dr. Ali Tanweer Siddiquee, Senior Research
investigator, NCD Cell, ICDDR B.
Dr. MD. Rashidul Hassan, Director, NIDCH.
Dr. MahbubElahi, Scientist, ICDDR B.
Dr. Muhammod Abdus Sabur, Consultant.
Dr. Md. Yunus, Consultant/Senior Scientist, ICDDR B.
Dr. Tariqul Islam, PO, URB.
Dr. Samar Kumar Hore, Senior Research Investigator,
ICDDR B.
Dr Mahfuzar Rahman, Program Head, RED, BRAC.
Dr. Fariha Haseen, BSMMU.