Speakers at a workshop yesterday called for raising awareness among the people in controlling communicable and non-communicable diseases including malnutrition problem. The sensitisation workshop titled 'Health education and promotion with stakeholders and journalists' was organised by Bangladesh Centre for Communication Programme (BCCP) at a city hotel. Bureau of Health Education, Directorate General of Health Services and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare supported the workshop. Experts presented different papers on the facts and impacts of communicable and non-communicable diseases including malnutrition. While presenting the papers, they said although nutrition situation has improved slightly in the country, the rate of malnutrition is still high. More than 58 percent children under five are underweight while 70 percent of expecting mothers have been suffering from anaemia, they added. The speakers said the outbreak of different communicable diseases has come down through strong campaign and immunisation programme, but new communicable diseases like Avian Influenza, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and HIV/AIDS have spread as new challenge. Besides, non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart ailment are also increasing sharply, they added. The speakers said media can play an important role by providing information on how to prevent the diseases by raising awareness in this regard. Dr Mostafa Zaman of WHO, Prof Mahfuzur Rahman of NIPSOM and Biman Kumar Saha of National Nutrition Programme presented the keynote papers. Health Secretary AKM Zafarullah Khan spoke as chief guest while Nur Mohammad, deputy chief and programme manager of the Bureau of Health Education, delivered the welcome address. Joint Secretary Dr Anwar Hossain Munshi, President of the National Press Club Shaukat Mahmood, Director General of DGHS Prof Mohammad Abul Faiz and Additional Director General Prof Hosne Ara Tahmin, and BCCP Director Mohammad Shahjahan were also present on the occasion.