Digital Tools To Cover District Hospitals
Dr Zubaida Rahman Urges Osteoporosis Screening Drive
- Over six million people estimated affected by silent osteoporosis disease across Bangladesh
- Dr Zubaida Rahman advocates DEXA scanning and FRAX tool implementation in sixty-four districts
- Research shows over eighty percent of aged women suffer bone density deficits
Highlighting the urgent need for advanced diagnostic technologies, medical data analytics, and early screening tools to tackle bone density deterioration, Ziaur Rahman Foundation Vice President Dr. Zubaida Rahman has called for a integrated nationwide campaign across all 64 districts.
She made these observations as the chief guest on Tuesday (October 20, 2026) at a scientific seminar titled "Osteoporosis: A Preventable Pandemic" organized by Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB). The event took place at the convention hall of the Super Specialized Hospital under Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) to observe World Osteoporosis Day.
Addressing the audience, Dr. Zubaida Rahman noted that 2025 estimates placed the number of osteoporosis patients in Bangladesh at nearly 6 million, though current figures are believed to be significantly higher. Citing a study on women aged 45 to 80 in north-central Bangladesh, she revealed that osteoporosis prevalence reached 40%, with osteopenia at 43.5%, indicating over 83% of participants suffered from bone mineral density loss.
To counter the crisis, Dr. Zubaida Rahman proposed forming a national 'Osteoporosis Society' and training 100,000 grassroots health workers to deploy digital screening frameworks. In rural districts lacking advanced Bone Mineral Density (BMD) machines, she recommended using algorithmic Fracture Risk Assessment Tools (FRAX) to evaluate patient vulnerability early.
Chaired by DAB President Professor Dr. Harun Al Rashid, the seminar was addressed by BNP Standing Committee Member Professor Dr. Forhad Halim Donor and Dr. Abdus Salam MP as special guests, followed by an interactive expert panel and scientific quiz session.
//DBTech/JNOR/SMP/MVNO//
