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WHO alarmed at rise in alcohol consumption

Sees South-East Asian region as emerging market

Staff Correspondent
The World Health Organization has expressed concern at the increased consumption of alcohol, particularly among the adolescents, youth and women in the countries of WHO's South-East Asian Region (SEAR).
The region has emerged as a market for the alcohol industry, and the "trade agreements are facilitating a greater
flow of investment in alcohol", which is likely to lead to increased consumption and its negative impacts in the region, it said.
The UN body made the statement on the closing day of the four-day regional conference at Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.
Health ministers, experts, and officials from 11 member states of SEAR-Bangladesh, Bhutan, North
Korea, India, Indonesia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and East Timor-attended it.
"It is a very important issue, because many youths are engaged in drug abuse today. I am happy that WHO has included it in the resolution," Health Minister Mohammed Nasim told a press conference at the end of the regional meeting.
Health experts say alcohol consumption leads to complications like cardiovascular diseases and cancers, besides social and economic consequences.
There is no study on the prevalence of alcohol consumption in Bangladesh, but it is believed to be rising despite the legal prohibition here, a health ministry official told The Daily Star. However, the rise in the abuse of drugs like Yaba, Phensedyl is evidenced by the frequent seizure of banned drugs, he said.
Mohammed Nasim said the conference was a great success for Bangladesh that signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs)-one with the Maldives on health education, exchange of health professionals, and export of drugs from Bangladesh, and a second with India on traditional medicines.
In addition, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Thailand signed an MoU to col-
laborate in the fight for elimination of kala-azar. The 11 member states also adopted a declaration, committing to root out vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue.
Bangladesh's immunisation coverage is 82 percent, the highest in the region, Nasim said, adding that the country had been able to present its achievements in the health sector to co-members. “We could also learn from others’ best practices," he said.
Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, director of WHO's South-East Asia Region, said Bangladesh was one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, and thus having the high risks of vector-borne diseases.
The countries facing similar problems had better share knowledge and fight the challenges, she said.
The regional conference discussed ways of meeting the shortage of health professionals in the region and avenues of collaboration.