The Embassy of Bangladesh in Manila convened a
seminar on 16 September 2026 on the prevention and control of noncommunicable
diseases (NCDs) among Bangladeshi expatriates in the Philippines. The seminar
brought together members of the Bangladeshi community and health partners to
enhance public awareness, disseminate reliable information and promote the
adoption of healthier lifestyles.
The Seminar commenced at 3:30 PM in the afternoon with the welcome remarks from
Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Philippines, His Excellency Mohammad Sarwar Mahmood,
ndc In his welcome remarks, he characterized the seminar as a timely initiative of the
Government of Bangladesh undertaken for the welfare of the Bangladeshi expatriate
community. Noting that NCDs account for approximately 71 per cent of deaths in
Bangladesh, he underscored the particular vulnerabilities faced by expatriates as a
consequence of occupational stress, unhealthy lifestyles and limited access to
healthcare services.

The Ambassador further called for strengthened collaboration
among community organisations, health partners, employers, relevant authorities and
the World Health Organization with a view to developing an inclusive, evidence-based
and sustainable programme for the prevention and control of NCDs.
Dr. John Juliard L. Go, Technical Officer for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injury
Prevention at the World Health Organization Philippines Country Office, attended the
seminar as chief guest and keynote speaker. In his presentation, Dr. Go addressed
the nature of NCDs, their principal risk factors and practical measures for preventing or mitigating the associated health risks. The presentation was followed by an
interactive question-and-answer session.
Participants expressed their appreciation for the initiative undertaken by the
Government of Bangladesh and the Embassy.
The seminar reaffirmed the Embassy’s continued commitment to advancing the
health and well-being of Bangladeshi nationals residing in the Philippines through
sustained awareness-raising, institutional cooperation and community engagement.