A seminar titled “Healthcare Needs and Service Gaps Among Urban Older Adults in Bangladesh” was held in Chattogram to discuss the healthcare demands and existing service gaps of the elderly population living in urban and rural areas of Bangladesh.
The event was jointly organized by the Department of Public Health at the University of Science and Technology Chittagong (USTC) and Young Power in Social Action (YPSA). It took place on Tuesday, December 23 in the USTC Conference Hall.
Professor Dr. Hafiz T. A. Khan, Professor of Public Health Statistics at the University of West London, UK, attended the seminar as the keynote speaker.
During the discussion, speakers highlighted that while the healthcare needs of the urban elderly population are increasing daily, the necessary services remain inadequate. They emphasized the urgency of ensuring quality healthcare for the elderly through increased research, policy support, and the implementation of effective initiatives in this sector.
Professor Dr. Hafiz T. A. Khan stated:
“The biggest obstacles to elderly healthcare in Bangladesh are age-related diseases, economic dependence, low government investment in the health sector, and a lack of awareness regarding physical resilience. As the body’s immunity decreases with age, economic dependency and high medical costs become severe barriers to receiving treatment. This situation can be mitigated if awareness is raised and necessary care is provided at both the governmental and individual levels.”
Dr. Md. Arifur Rahman, Founder and Chief Executive of YPSA, said:
“Since the inception of YPSA, we have strived to integrate elderly healthcare into various community programs. Through our fieldwork, we have found that economic insecurity and lack of education are the primary barriers to ensuring healthcare rights for the elderly. We have worked to ensure that elderly community members receive education and achieve economic stability through various project activities. Furthermore, we have ongoing specialized projects for vulnerable communities in Sitakunda, Sayedpur, and Kawkhali Upazilas. We hope that through YPSA’s efforts, we can play a vital role in improving the quality of elderly healthcare across the country, not just in specific districts.”
The Chief Guest of the seminar was Professor Dr. Mohammad Solaiman, Vice-Chancellor of USTC. Other notable attendees included Md. Manjur Murshed Chowdhury, Director (Economic Development) of YPSA; Md. Ali Shahin, Head of Advocacy; Assistant Directors Newaz Mahmud; Md. Rashed Sarwaruddin; Professor ABM Alauddin Chowdhury; as well as students and university officials.
According to the organizers, this seminar will serve as a platform to raise awareness and guide future initiatives for the improvement of healthcare for both urban and rural elderly populations.
