Speakers at ‘National and Int’l Youth Day’ webinar

Staff Reporter:

Hypertension and other non-communicable diseases are increasing at an alarming rate among the country’s youth due to various causes including unhealthy dietary habits, physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyles, and air pollution. Immediate and effective action is crucial to safeguard the young generation from these escalating health risks.

Speakers highlighted such recommendations at a webinar titled “Hypertension Risk and the Youth of Bangladesh”, organized by research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) on Tuesday August 12, in observance of National and International Youth Day 2025. The webinar was supported by Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) and co-organized by youth organizations- Bangladesh Medical Students’ Society (BMSS), Platform Doctors Foundation, It’s Humanity Foundation, Youth Club of Bangladesh, Kashful Foundation, and Give Bangladesh. This year the day will be observed under the theme “Youth Advancing Multilateral Cooperation Through Technology and Partnerships.”

It was informed at the webinar that non-communicable diseases including hypertension account for 71 percent of all deaths in Bangladesh, with 19 percent deaths occurring prematurely. Without immediate action to prevent and control these conditions, the burden of diseases among young people will surge, leading to a decline in workforce productivity and placing heavy pressure on healthcare and economy. While the provision of free medicine has already commenced to combat the prevalence of hypertension, it is essential to ensure the medicine’s availability in all Community Clinics and Upazila Health Complexes of the country.

Attending the webinar, Dr Geeta Rani Devi, Program Manager, Community Based Health Care (CBHC), said, “Various government initiatives are underway to combat hypertension, including the provision of anti-hypertensive medicines through Community Clinics and Upazila Health Complexes. Steps have been taken to integrate youth into Community Clinic activities. In addition to embracing healthy lifestyles, young people must participate actively in hypertension control initiatives.”

Dr. Md. Maruf Haque Khan, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health & Informatics, Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), said, “Hypertension is becoming a growing concern among the youth of Bangladesh. To build a healthy young generation and reduce the prevalence of hypertension, changes in dietary habits and lifestyle are essential.”

The webinar was chaired by PROGGA’s Executive Director ABM Zubair and moderated by PROGGA’s Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova. People of different professions from different regions of the country participated in the webinar.