Ending TB in Bangladesh: Garnering youth action through the WHO 1+1 initiative

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases, claiming an estimated 1.3 million lives globally in 2024, according to the latest Global TB Report by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

While health systems have made strides, young people, particularly those aged 15 to 34, continue to bear a disproportionate burden of the disease.

In Bangladesh, where youth make up a significant portion of the population, TB presents a major public health challenge. The country reports more than 379,000 new TB cases annually, with contributing factors including undernutrition, poverty, overcrowded living conditions, and the rise of multidrug-resistant strains.

To put youth at the forefront of the TB response, WHO Bangladesh organised the Youth2EndTB Townhall and Action Planning Workshop in Dhaka on May 12, 2025. The hybrid event brought together over 150 participants—including youth advocates, public health professionals, and government stakeholders—to co-create a youth-led roadmap to end TB in the country.

The workshop featured high-level speakers, including Dr Anupama Hazarika, a medical officer at WHO Bangladesh, and Dr Md. Akramul Islam, Senior Director of the BRAC Health Program; Dr Brian Kanyika from The Global Fund; Ms Hannah Monica Dias of WHO's Global TB Programme; and key National TB Control Program representatives. The session culminated in drafting the Bangladesh Youth Declaration to End TB, a landmark document outlining strategic priorities and embedding youth leadership in the national TB response.

"The declaration is a milestone. It reflects a shared vision where youth are not sidelined but are leading efforts to end TB," said Dr Rajesh Narwal, Deputy WHO Representative to Bangladesh.

The initiative is part of the broader WHO 1+1 Youth Initiative, which encourages each young person to inspire and mobilise at least one peer. Designed to create a ripple effect of awareness and action, the initiative has gained traction across multiple countries, aligning with the United Nations Youth Strategy and the Multisectoral Accountability Framework (MAF) for TB.

A notable feature of Bangladesh's youth-led response is the strong involvement of academic institutions. Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) and BRAC University have actively promoted the WHO 1+1 Initiative on campus, fostering youth engagement in public health and reinforcing systemic accountability and equity within the health system.

With strong political will, institutional support, and an energised youth base, Bangladesh is laying the groundwork to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of ending TB by 2030.

"This is more than an event," said Madhusudan Kaphle, Executive Director of NYMAT and one of the youth leaders at the workshop. "It marks the beginning of a generation leading the charge against TB. We're not waiting for change—we're creating it."

As Bangladesh continues to mobilise its youth, the message is loud and clear: ending TB is no longer just a medical mission—it is a movement led by young people determined to create a TB-free future.