A public awareness procession and discussion meeting was held at Bangladesh Medical University on the occasion of World COPD Day 2025 on Tuesday.
The event, organised by the Department of Chest Diseases (Respiratory) of BMU, was attended by vice-chancellor Professor Md Shahinul Alam as chief guest.
On the occasion, a huge rally was brought out from the Cabin Block of BMU and balloons and pigeons were released. Later, a roundtable discussion titled 鈥楥OPD: The Hidden Public Health Crisis鈥� was held at Shaheed Dr Milton Hall.
BMU pro-vice-chancellor (administration) Professor Md Abul Kalam Azad, pro-vice chancellor (research and development) Professor Mujibur Rahman Howlader, registrar Professor Md Nazrul Islam, and director (hospital) Brigadier General Irteka Rahman addressed the meeting.
Department of Internal Medicine Professor Md Abdul Quader, Professor Kazi Momtaz Uddin Ahmed, director of NIDCH Professor Md Delwar Hossain, head of the Department of Respiratory Medicine of DMC Professor Adnan Yusuf Chowdhury, secretary general of CHAB Golam Sarwar Liaquat Hossain Bhuiyan, Rajshis Chakraborty of the Department of Respiratory Medicine and others spoke.
The programme was presided over by Professor Shamim Ahmed, chairman of the Department of Respiratory Medicine and was moderated by Manal Mizanur Rahman. The Quran was recited by Kabirul Islam. Md Shamim Alam Khan, executive director of Unihealth Pharma, delivered his vote thanks.
In his speech as the chief guest, vice-chancellor Professor Md Shahinul Alam said that public awareness should be created to prevent Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Initiatives should be taken to create necessary guidelines and policies for the prevention and treatment of COPD. Education and research activities on COPD need to be strengthened.
In his speech as guest of honour, Chest and Heart Association Bangladesh President Md Zahirul Islam Shakil said that there are many opportunities to work to prevent COPD. 鈥業t is possible to prevent COPD if we work together. Research activities should also be given importance.鈥�
BMU pro-vice chancellor (administration) Professor Md Abul Kalam Azad said that to prevent COPD, a coordinated and national level programme should be taken with emphasis on avoiding smoking and reducing air pollution and addressing all risks.
Mothers should be informed about the correct rules for using cooking stoves in villages while attention should also be paid to ensuring that COPD patients receive appropriate treatment based on guidelines, he added.
Pro-vice chancellor (research and development) Professor Mujibur Rahman Howlader said, 鈥業t is important to make the public aware in the health system. Prevention of environmental pollution and smoking cessation are essential to prevent COPD. Research activities should be continued for development and disease prevention.鈥�
Professor Shamim Ahmed, chairman of the Department of Respiratory Medicine, said, 鈥榃e should remember that COPD is preventable. If we work together, we can reduce the burden of this disease by almost half.鈥�