Gayleena Pradhan | Intern

Youth Development Fund (YDF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and World Health Organization (WHO) on June 18 observed Walk the Talk event.

Walk The Talk is an annual event organised coinciding with the world health assembly every year to create awareness on important public health issues.

Her Majesty Gyalyum Tseyring Pem Wangchuck was the chief guest at the event.

The theme of the event was “Reduce salt, beat non-communicable diseases (NCD)”.

Globally, 40 million deaths occur due to NCDs; in Bhutan 70 percent of the deaths are attributed to NCDs. Majority of our population is suffer from hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.

An average Bhutanese consumes 8.3 grams of salt per day, which is 5 grams more than recommended by WHO. Over consumption of salt can cause raised blood pressure, stroke, and kidney failures.

NCDs can be prevented with healthy diet, regular exercises, avoiding alcohol and tobacco.

YDF mobilised youth volunteers in action in 20 districts to create awareness on NCDs since youth are agents of change.

The day was marked by a tree-kilometre walk from MOH to YDF centre  and mass health screening.