Rising Hypertension Risk Among Youths, Call for Effective Action

Speakers at a webinar marking National and International Youth Day 2025 have warned that unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity, irregular lifestyles, and air pollution are driving an alarming rise in hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Bangladesh’s youth. They stressed the urgent need for effective measures to protect the young generation from these health risks.

The webinar, titled “Hypertension Risk and Bangladesh’s Youth,” was organized on Monday (12 August) by advocacy and research organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress). It was co-hosted by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), along with Bangladesh Medical Students’ Society, Platform Doctors Foundation, It’s Humanity Foundation, Youth Club of Bangladesh, Kashful Foundation, and Give Bangladesh. This year’s theme for the day was “Youth Power in Technology, Advancing through Multilateral Partnerships.”

According to the discussion, 71% of total deaths in Bangladesh are caused by NCDs such as hypertension, with 19% being premature deaths. Without urgent control and prevention measures, the prevalence of these diseases among young people will reach a critical level, reducing the number of able-bodied workers and putting immense pressure on the country’s healthcare and economic systems. While free hypertension medication distribution at the grassroots level has already started, speakers emphasized the need to ensure medicine availability in all community clinics and upazila health complexes.

Dr. Geeta Rani Devi, Program Manager of Community-Based Health Care (CBHC) at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said that several government initiatives are underway to combat hypertension, including distributing medicines through community clinics and upazila health complexes. She added, “We have already started engaging youth in community clinic activities. Alongside adopting healthy habits, young people must actively participate in hypertension control programs.”

Dr. Md. Maruf Haque Khan, Assistant Professor at the Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangladesh Medical University, said, “The prevalence of hypertension among youths is rising at an alarming rate. To build a healthy young generation and reduce the risk, changes in diet and lifestyle are essential.”

The event was chaired by ABM Zubayer, Executive Director of PROGGA, and moderated by Sadia Galiba Prova, Coordinator at PROGGA. Youth organizations and participants from various professional backgrounds from across the country joined the webinar.