BRAC observes World Diabetes Day across the country

BRAC Health Programme observed World Diabetes Day across the Country by organising 450 specialised health camps, awareness rallies, and discussion sessions in 275 upazilas.

The initiatives aimed to provide diagnostic and treatment services for diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) directly to communities.

Special activities at NCD corners in upazila health complexes included free diabetes testing and awareness campaigns.

Over the past decade, BRAC has screened nearly 5.8 million people for NCDs, focusing particularly on diabetes detection and care.

These efforts have expanded access to early diagnosis and treatment across the country. BRAC plans to further extend these programmes to ensure universal access to screening and long-term care.

Diabetes prevalence is rising rapidly in Bangladesh. Early detection and regular treatment remain the most effective preventive measures, yet millions still lack access to testing and medical consultation.

BRAC’s community-based model delivers services directly to people, including on-the-spot testing and guidance on healthy lifestyles, as well as referrals for long-term care at government health facilities.

BRAC implements these programmes in coordination with local health departments and relevant government officials to support national NCD prevention and treatment initiatives.

This approach particularly benefits low-income populations in urban, rural, and peri-urban communities.

During the observance, civil surgeons and senior officials from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) visited BRAC’s expanded NCD project in Rangpur Division and Narayanganj.

The initiative, jointly implemented by BRAC, the Health Directorate, and Medtronic Labs, links patient data to NCD corners in government hospitals, ensuring follow-up and continued treatment.

“For a long time, millions of people in Bangladesh had no access to basic screening for diabetes and other NCDs. Today, early detection is reaching communities that once had nowhere to turn.

Our next priority is to ensure that screening leads to lifelong care through linked digital systems and trained community health workers,” said Md Akramul Islam, Senior Director of BRAC Health Programme.

“The partnership between the NCDC and BRAC demonstrates how public-sector leadership, community outreach, and digital innovation can transform diabetes and NCD care in Bangladesh.

Aligned with World Diabetes Day 2025’s theme, ‘Diabetes Across Life Stages,’ we are ensuring equitable, high-quality care for every individual at every stage of life,” said Professor Dr Syed Zakir Hossain, Line Director, Non-Communicable Disease Control (NCDC), DGHS.

Experts at a recent BRAC event noted that more than 70% of deaths in Bangladesh result from long-term NCDs. Nearly 68% of healthcare costs are borne out-of-pocket, pushing many families into poverty and leaving many without access to essential treatment.