The Dhaka Times Desk A Commonwealth Scholars Engagement Session on Mental Health was organized on October 2 at the British Council's own auditorium located at Fuller Road in the capital Dhaka.
This session was organized by Bangladesh Association of Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows (BACSAF) and held in collaboration with the British Council. Its second session will be held on November 16 at the Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh.
According to global statistics on mental health, 970 million people around the world suffer from mental illness or drug use problems. 1 in 4 people may suffer from mental illness at some point in their life. In addition, nearly 8 million deaths (14.3 percent) per year worldwide are related to mental health problems.
A study shows that the global pandemic of Corona has had a significant negative impact on the mental health of people in Bangladesh. Among the country's adult population, the prevalence of depression has increased by 57.9 percent, stress by 59.7 percent, and anxiety problems by 33.7 percent compared to the pre-pandemic period. According to a report, there are limited access to public mental health care, shortage of skilled mental health professionals, uneven distribution of financial resources and
Mental health care in Bangladesh is still significantly inadequate due to societal prejudices.
David Knox, Director Programs, British Council Bangladesh said, “We are delighted to be able to support Commonwealth Scholars Alumni in this session on mental health and well-being. The members of this committee strive to express their expertise and relevance and they provide an opportunity to the general public to gain knowledge and expertise from experts in almost all fields of Bangladesh. The post-coronavirus global mental health crisis is now widely acknowledged.
Today's session will provide participants with practical knowledge on how to overcome common misconceptions and identify stress, anxiety and depression.”
Commonwealth Fellow and mental health expert Monira Rahman said, “October is the month to raise awareness about mental health. We need to understand that we cannot achieve the Sustainable Development Goals without ensuring mental health. Today we assert our mental health rights, the right to quality and affordable mental health care in society. Acquiring knowledge about mental health is the first step in achieving this goal. 'Mental Health for All'; Today we shed light on this important issue.”
Commonwealth Scholarships enable talented and confident people from low and middle income Commonwealth countries to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for sustainable development. Most scholarships are funded by the UK's Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Since the first Commonwealth Scholarship was launched in 1960, more than 1,800 Bangladeshi students have received these scholarships and fellowships.
Former Dean of Engineering and Technology Department of Dhaka University and President of BACSAF Professor Dr. Rafiqul Islam said, “It is a great pleasure for the BACSAF Executive Committee to organize this session on Mental Health in collaboration with the British Council and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. To establish such a prestigious association to strengthen professional communication and collaboration among Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows with a view to contributing to the sustainable development of the country.
Done.”
Policymakers from the Ministry of Health and Education, members of BACSAF (Bangladesh Association of Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows), representatives from public and private educational institutions and healthcare institutions participated in the session. News bulletins.
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How to prevent dengue
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral fever. This fever is different from other viral or bacterial fevers. However, this fever is not contagious in any way. This viral fever can occur alone or in combination with other viruses (chikungunya, yellow fever, Burma forest, flu, respiratory syncytial) and bacteria (pneumococcus).
Dengue fever is divided into two categories depending on the severity of symptoms and fever.
1. Common dengue fever
2. Dengue fever with bleeding.
In the case of common dengue fever, the following symptoms are mainly seen-
1. Sudden high fever lasting 2 to 7 days.
2. Severe headache.
3. Pain behind the eyes.
4. Along with the fever, red rash appears all over the body.
5. Severe pain in whole body as well as back pain.
6. Nausea or vomiting.
7. A rash or red bumps on the skin.
In case of dengue fever with bleeding:
1. Bleeding from nose, mouth or vomiting with high fever within 2 to 48 hours.
2. Fluid accumulation in chest or abdomen along with fever.
If any of these symptoms appear, seek medical attention immediately.
On the other hand
Wait at home for the first 3 days of fever. On the other hand, sponge the whole body with water every now and then. This will reduce the level of fever. Drink enough water and rest. After that, if the fever does not decrease or if it continues to increase after some time, consult a doctor immediately.
Things to do to prevent Dengue:
1. Try to keep the surroundings of the house as clean as possible.
2. If there are flower tubs or broken plastic bottles, can shells, tires or polythene inside the house, clean them quickly and drain the accumulated water from the flower tubs.
3. Spray or fog at least 3 times a week to kill mosquitoes.
4. You can keep mosquito repellent cream with you while going out.
5. After evening, younger and older members of the household should use mosquito nets.
6. Clean up any accumulated rain water, as this is the time when Aedes mosquitoes lay their eggs.
7. On the other hand, you can use mats along with mosquito nets to avoid mosquito infestation.
8. Since Aedes mosquitoes bite during the day, it is important to avoid sleeping with mosquito nets while sleeping during the day. Source: https://dmpnews.org
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