ARK Foundation collaborates with Non-Communicable Disease Control (NCDC) Programme of DGHS to Strengthen the Capacity of Urban Primary Health Care Workforce and the Health Information System at Urban Primary Health Care Facilities within Khulna City Corporation

A two-day training session was held on 13th and 14th May 2025 in Khulna to strengthen the capacity of urban primary healthcare facilities—such as Government Outdoor Dispensaries (GODs) and NGO clinics—in managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with a focus on hypertension and diabetes. This initiative was organised by ARK Foundation and funded by the Non-Communicable Disease Control (NCDC) Programme under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), within the Khulna City Corporation (KCC). The programme marks an important step towards enhancing the national protocol for managing high blood pressure and diabetes and strengthening the health information system in primary healthcare settings.

The training brought together healthcare professionals from GODs and City Corporation-run NGO clinics in KCC. Participants included Residential Medical Officers (RMOs), Medical Officers, Senior Staff Nurses, Pharmacists, and other frontline service providers. The aim was to improve their understanding of the national protocol for hypertension and diabetes management and prepare them to deliver effective care in urban settings.

The event was chaired by the Honourable Deputy Director and Programme Manager of the NCDC, Dr Nurul Islam. Special guests included Dr Abul Fazal, Chief Health Officer (CHO) of Khulna City Corporation (KCC); Dr Rafiqul Islam Gazi, Superintendent of the 250-bed Khulna Sadar Hospital; Dr Saikot Md Rezwanul Huque, Deputy Civil Surgeon, Khulna; and Advocate Md Masum Billah, Executive Director of Social & Environmental Increasing Analysis Movement (SEIAM).

Non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes are a growing burden in Bangladesh. According to the 2022 STEPS survey, 71% of all deaths in the country are due to NCDs. One in four people aged 30 and above has hypertension, and one in ten lives with diabetes. To address this, the government has developed a simplified and affordable national protocol that uses a total cardiovascular risk approach for managing these conditions in primary healthcare, using widely available medications.

Urban primary healthcare facilities often lack adequate infrastructure for effective data collection, storage, and management. This leads to data loss, inaccuracies, and inefficiencies. Furthermore, these systems frequently face resource constraints, including inadequate funding, limited staffing, and a lack of training. To address these gaps, the training introduced the “Simple Application” a digital tool for consistent patient tracking and reporting among the urban primary health care providers.

ARK Foundation’s training covered both the national protocol for management of hypertension and diabetes and simple application for strengthening health information system. The training covered all aspects of the national protocol, including proper diagnosis, patient counselling, dietary guidelines, lifestyle modifications, and drug management. The Simple App, which focuses on registering NCD patients, particularly those with hypertension and diabetes, simplifies monthly reporting. Patients receive a booklet with a QR code to be used during each follow-up visit from the health care provider. The app is linked to the government dashboard, making data recording and reporting easier and more efficient.

All guests and participants expressed their appreciation and hope that the training would empower providers to deliver better care for hypertension and diabetes, following the national protocol, while improving health information systems at their respective primary care facilities.

The programme concluded with a certificate distribution and a group photo. Participants were reminded to see their certificates not merely as a formality, but as a symbol of their commitment to improving health in their communities.

This training event marked an important milestone in Khulna’s journey to becoming a “Healthy City.” By empowering frontline health workers with skills, tools, and knowledge, the city aims to improve early diagnosis, effective treatment, and long-term management of NCDs in the primary health care settings. This two-day event has laid the foundation for stronger, more responsive urban healthcare, and has reinforced the national mission to combat NCDs and improve lives—one patient at a time.