Building Climate-Resilient Health: Youth Voices from Bandarban
In the face of the adverse impacts of climate change, young people from Bandarban’s hill districts recently came together to discuss challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services. A day-long policy dialogue workshop provided a platform for marginalized and hill community youth to share their experiences and advocate for inclusive health policies.
The forum brought together 30 youth representatives from diverse hill and marginalized communities. Participants shared that recurrent landslides, hill floods, droughts, and poor connectivity have long disrupted their lives. These climate-related challenges not only affect their livelihoods but also hinder access to essential SRHR services. Youth emphasized that limited health centers in remote areas, transportation barriers, poverty, and lack of awareness prevent them from receiving even urgent health care.
The workshop was organized by SERAC-Bangladesh under the Youth Catalyst project, with support from UNFPA Bangladesh and funding from Sida. The opening session featured a welcome address by Md. Salim Mia, Deputy Director (Program), SERAC-Bangladesh, while Dr. Rokhsana Yasmin, Project Technical Officer, UNFPA Bangladesh, presented the forum’s objectives and structure. Dr. Lenin Talukdar, Deputy Director, Bandarban District Family Planning Office, presided over the event. Special guests included Md. Rezaul Karim, Assistant Director, Department of Environment, Bandarban and Supan Chakma, Deputy Director, Department of Women Affairs, Bandarban.
Dr. Lenin Talukdar, Deputy Director, Bandarban highlighted the importance of youth input, stating, “The experiences and perspectives of young people provide critical guidance in health policy formulation. Participatory policies like these can drive positive societal change.”
S.M. Shaikat, Executive Director, SERAC-Bangladesh, said, “The white paper prepared based on youth feedback will be presented to the Ministry of Health to ensure inclusive and sustainable health policies that meet the needs of marginalized and hill district youth.”
Other key attendees included SERAC-Bangladesh Program Lead, Shahina Yasmin, Advocacy Specialist, Mizanur Rahman Akand, Innovation & Youth Specialist, Md. Nazmul Hasan, Finance & Admin Coordinator, Omar Faruk Khan, and Communication Officer, Enamul Haque.