Médecins du Monde Japan (MdMJ), in collaboration with the Bangladeshi NGO Pulse Bangladesh Society, has been implementing activities to prevent and manage non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Rohingya refugee camps and the surrounding host communities in Bangladesh. The project includes awareness-raising and health education on NCDs prevention and management, as well as support to strengthen the capacity of local clinics and healthcare providers.

As part of these efforts, medical consultations and health education sessions have also been conducted in host communities. However, our project funded by the Japanese government came to an end on April 14. As the project was ending, discussions were held on how these activities could be sustained. As a result, a local civic group that had previously participated in the activities agreed to take over the initiative. The group subsequently co-organized a medical consultation and health education session together with one of our partner clinics.

Around 20 community residents gathered at a venue set up on the grounds of a private home. Clinic staff and members of the civic group conducted health education sessions on NCDs, while clinic staff measured participants’ blood pressure and blood glucose levels. Individuals showing abnormal results were given advice and encouraged to seek further medical care at hospitals or clinics. Among the elderly participants, some were found to have high blood pressure, while others were identified as living with diabetes.