Non-communicable diseases continue to be a barrier to sustainable development and are responsible for an overwhelming majority of deaths everyday. BRAC’s current non-communicable diseases model in Bangladesh works to improve health outcomes by identifying individuals in the community who screen positive for diabetes and hypertension, and monitoring their treatment and its response over a sustained period.
Community health workers go door-to-door, conducting tests to record parameters such as blood sugar and blood pressure. Support groups are organised for individuals diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension, which promote and support them to build healthy dietary patterns, engage in physical activity and essential lifestyle choices.
Individuals are required to visit BRAC’s non-communicable diseases centres every month during the first three months after treatment has initiated. Trained paramedics conduct lab tests and counsel patients on lifestyle modifications. Medical doctors trained in non-communicable disease management provide telemedicine consultation to patients remotely and prescribe medication which can be availed at the clinic. Over the past year, a total of 363,186 non-communicable diseases tests have been conducted to diagnose and support management.
