Tackling “half” of the non-communicable disease burden in Bangladesh: a diagonal service delivery model with a life-course approach

Abstract

In the context of increasing morbidity and mortality due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) globally and particularly in low-resource countries, it has become important to explore newer health systems delivery models. In low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) women traditionally challenged with multiple barriers in accessing health services, are at even greater disadvantage compared to men. In Bangladesh, women constitute almost half of the country’s population and are disproportionately affected by NCDs like other LMICs. The country’s reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services are well established and designed to reach women in their households through community health workers (CHWs). This paper discusses how NCDs screening and control measures could be integrated into the existing RMNCAH pathway and proposes a conceptual model for such diagonal service delivery integration. The paper also describes multiple RMNCAH service delivery touchpoints that could be utilized for screening and treating women for NCD risk factors, across their life-course.