PARO, July 30, 2024 – Health officials from the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and media personnel acknowledged their shared interest in raising awareness about non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Bhutan.
NCDs are a serious and growing problem in Bhutan, accounting for the majority of deaths in the country.
In her inaugural remarks, WHO representative in Bhutan, Bhupinder Kaur Aulakh, stated that lifestyle diseases account for more than 70 percent of sickness and death in the country.
She added that tobacco use has increased from 25 percent in 2014 to 31 percent in 2023, with 22 percent of youth, including girls, using tobacco. “More than 400 people die every year due to tobacco use, accounting for 10 percent of all deaths in Bhutan,” said the WHO representative. “Tobacco costs Nu 1.2 billion every year, which is 0.7 percent of the annual GDP.”
She also highlighted that Doma (areca nut) chewing prevalence is 60 percent. “Alcohol use is as high as 40 percent and causes liver diseases, heart disease, mental health issues, and children born to mothers who drink alcohol are often unhealthy. Alcohol use also contributes to road traffic accidents,” Bhupinder said. “The tobacco and alcohol industries are thriving at the cost of people’s health, and we must rise against them.”
She emphasized that blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity can be controlled by adopting a healthy lifestyle, including healthy eating, exercising, drinking water instead of sugary drinks, and maintaining proper sleep. “Prevention is not only better than cure but is also cost-effective.”
According to Bhupinder, many people with communicable diseases face stigma and discrimination, which leads them to hide their status and not seek care, posing a risk to others. “By influencing public behavior, you can prevent sickness and promote good health,” she said. “The media, with their power of pen and speech, has a critical role to play in raising public awareness.”
She called on media personnel to become partners with WHO in their joint endeavor to promote the health of the people of Bhutan.
Health Secretary Pemba Wangchuk highlighted the challenges the health system is currently facing with NCDs and other diseases in the country.
The NHS, jointly conducted by the Ministry of Health and the National Statistics Bureau, marks a continuation of the decennial series initiated in 1984 and provides crucial insights into health trends across a wide array of domains, namely non-communicable diseases, mental health, nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, immunization, and access to health services.
Organized by WHO in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, journalists were presented with the findings of the National Health Survey 2023 and the landscape of health systems in Bhutan.
Participants will continue to discuss NCDs and alcohol-related diseases tomorrow. The four-day annual health workshop will conclude on August 2.