As part of its commitment to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and preventing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Dhaka, SERAC-Bangladesh recently facilitated a series of impactful 5th GP and Youth Leaders Networking Meetings under the Improving SRHR in Dhaka Project 20 june to 28 june 2025, in collaborating with Ipas Bangladesh, supported by Global Affairs Canada through the HealthBridge Foundation of Canada.
Held across various communities including Ashkona, Mirhajibug, Rupnagar Tin Shed, Adarsha Palli, Ibrahimpur, and Shar-E-Bangla Nagar, these meetings aimed to build strong coordination between General Practitioners (GPs) and Youth Mentor, Youth Leaders and Co-Leader, Youth volunteers, establishing a collaborative approach to community-based SRHR services and awareness. The networking sessions brought together a total of 50 participants, including 40 girls and 10 boys, all youth leaders and volunteers actively working on SRHR and SGBV issues in their communities. The program also engaged 5 General Practitioners, fostering direct communication and relationship-building between the health service providers and the youth advocates.These meetings served to introduce youth volunteers to GPs working in the same communities. Clarify roles and responsibilities of volunteers in referral and education processes. Update stakeholders on the formation and function of community support groups. Develop sustainable coordination models for better SRHR outcomes.
Facilitated by SBCC Officers Md. Shafiullah, Sumaia Akter Mim and Riyad Hossain from SERAC-Bangladesh, the discussions emphasized Contraception Access, Post Abortion Care awareness (PAC), Social Stigma Reduction, and the importance of quality improvement in SRHR services. Through this model of inclusive networking, youth volunteers are now better positioned to work alongside local healthcare professionals to ensure that their communities receive timely, accurate, and stigma-free SRHR services.
SERAC-Bangladesh recognizes that sustainable SRHR change begins with grassroots collaboration. By empowering youth volunteers and integrating them into existing healthcare networks, the initiative lays the foundation for lasting, youth-friendly health ecosystems in urban Dhaka. SERAC-Bangladesh focused to develop youth volunteer leaders’ capacity building on SRHR and SGBV, who play an important role in ensuring SRHR in Dhaka through community mobilizations.