National Young Health Conference 2026: Recognising the critical role of young people in achieving SDG & UHC
The National Young Health Conference 2026, jointly organised by the department of public health and informatics, Bangladesh Medical University, and UNICEF Bangladesh, was held at the Super Specialised Hospital of the BMU in Dhaka on Sunday.
The conference brought together public health experts, researchers, development partners, academia, policymakers and civil society representatives to strengthen dialogue and collaboration on young people’s health in the country, said a press release.
Bangladesh currently has a significant youth population, with nearly 29 per cent of citizens aged between 10 and 24 years.
Recognising the critical role of young people in achieving the sustainable development goals and Universal Health Coverage, the conference emphasised the importance of evidence-based policymaking, inter-ministerial coordination and meaningful youth engagement in health systems and governance.
Discussions highlighted the impact of rapid urbanisation, climate vulnerability, social inequities and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases on the health outcomes of adolescents and young people.
Participants also acknowledged continuing gaps in access to quality sexual and reproductive health services, mental health support, nutrition, digital health access, and protection from violence.
Throughout the conference, plenary session, quiz competition, oral and poster presentations, debate competition, panel discussions focused on key public health priorities relevant to adolescents and young people.
The discussions centring around seven major themes were sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, non-communicable diseases and lifestyle modification, mental health and wellbeing, violence associated with young people, vulnerable young people and climate change.
The conference was chaired by Professor Dr Md Atiqul Haque, chairman of DPHI, and dean faculty of preventive and social medicine, BMU.
The program was attended, among others, by Professor Dr Md Abul Kalam Azad, BMU pro-vice-chancellor, administration; Professor Dr Md Mujibur Rahman Hawlader, pro-VC, research and development; Professor Dr Md Nazrul Islam, pro-VC, academic; and Professor Dr Nahreen Akhtar, Treasurer, BMU.