State minister stresses importance of religious leaders in diabetes prevention progs

State Minister for Health MA Muhit has called for leveraging science, religious values and social participation to prevent diabetes, saying that diabetes cannot be prevented through hospitals or healthcare services alone.

He said, “Religious leaders have a very important role in shaping our lifestyles and social structures. If imams, priests and representatives of other religions advise people to lead healthy lifestyles, bring about behavioural changes and undergo primary health check-ups, only then will it be possible to build a healthy Bangladesh.”

He made the remarks as the chief guest at a conference held at a hotel in the capital on Thursday morning.

Muhit said the incumbent government has arranged honorariums and allowances for religious leaders from the outset. However, he said, their engagement should not remain limited to providing allowances but should instead be utilised to protect public health.

Citing research findings, the minister said diabetes prevention programmes organised by leveraging religious values in Bangladesh have been able to reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes by around 42% to 43% among people at high risk. “This is an unprecedented integration of science and religious beliefs,” he said.

He further said that implementation of the “Dhaka Declaration”, adopted at the conference with the participation of Muslim, Hindu, Christian and Buddhist leaders, would serve as a shining example of Bangladesh’s religious harmony and inclusive society before the international community.

Others who spoke at the event included Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Prof Dr Prabhat Chandra Biswas; Head of the Dhaka Regional Hub of the Islamic Development Bank Ali M Khan; Executive Director of the Global Metabolic Health Alliance Dr Amit Gupta; President of the Diabetes in Asia Study Group Prof Abdul Basit; Chair of IDF South-East Asia Dr Banshi Sabu; JICA Chief Representative Junko Takahashi; OIC Assistant Secretary General Mohammad Aftab Ahmed Khokhar; WHO Bangladesh Deputy Representative Dr Rajesh Narwal; World Diabetes Foundation Board Member Sobhia Akram; and President of the International Diabetes Federation Prof Peter Schwarz.