Non-Communicable Diseases Control (NCDC), Directorate General Health Services (DGHS) organized a consultative workshop on “Tobacco Free Health Care Facilities Implementation Guidelines” facilitate by National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh on 22 May 2018 at the conference room of Directorate General Health Services (DGHS). The workshop was presided by Professor Dr. Abul Kalam Azad, director general (DG), Directorate General Health service (DGHS). National Professor Brigadier (Rtd.) Abdul Malik was the chief guest and Mr. Nasiruddin Ahmed, PhD, Commissioner, Anti-Corruption Commission (former chairman, NBR) was the special guest. Dr. Shamim Jubayer, Research Fellow, National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute presented the keynote on the draft guideline.
Professor Dr. Abul Kalam Azad, director general (DG), Directorate General Health service (DGHS) said that the guideline is well developed and comprehensive. In the health sector adequate resources are available to facilitate such initiatives, so proper steps for its implantation should be taken. National Professor Brigadier (Rtd.) Abdul Malik said to go ahead to make the health care facilities tobacco free. Any big initiative starts from a single step. So relentless collective approach is needful to implement the guideline.
Dr. Nur Mohammad, Line Director, Non-Communicable Diseases Control Program, DGHS; Professor Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury, Head of the Department, Epidemiology & Research, National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute (NHFH&RI), Dr. Syed Mahfuzul Huq, National Professional Officer, NCD, World Health Organization (WHO) were present in the workshop. Beside this, representatives from relevant departments of government and anti-tobacco organizations also participated in the workshop. More than 40 persons were present and appreciated the initiative of developing such a comprehensive guideline to make health care facilities tobacco free. Participants expressed their valuable opinion as well as recommendations on the guideline to make it more work worthy. They opined that the guideline will play a vital role in the health care facilities nationwide.