SERAC-Bangladesh has just initiated “Knowledge SUCCESS” project, coordinating with the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) supported by USAID and Johns Hopkins University to create audiovisual content on family planning and SRH awareness for adolescents in five districts of the country. As part of the program activity, ‘Chattogram Content Development Workshop’ was held on 2nd August, 2023 at Chattogram town.
The welcome address was conducted by Mr. Md. Salim Miah, Deputy Director (Program), SERAC-Bangladesh. Ms. Nusrat Sharmin Resma, Senior Program Officer of SERAC-Bangladesh presented the project brief and the operational planning of the project. The workshop was moderated by Mr. SM Shaikat, Executive Director, SERAC-Bangladesh.
Mr. Golam Md. Azam, Divisional Director of Family Planning, Chattogram Division, Chattogram was the chief guest of the event. Special guests included Mr. Nazmul Hasan, Assistant Director, as well as Mr. Dr. Seheli Nargis, Assistant Director (CC) of Family Planning Chattogram district. The program was chaired by Mr. Mohammad Abul Kalam, Deputy Director of Family Planning, Chattogram.
End of the workshop, ‘Maijbhandari’ and ‘Palagan’ were proposed by the participants and recommanded by the guests through voting. As the artists for these contents Mr. Sirajul Islam (Known as Head Master), Chattogram Regional Theater Artists Group have been suggested. The content is recommended for displaying among educational institutions and communities in the Chottogram Division.
In the speech of the chief guest, Mr. Golam Md. Azam, Divisional Director of Family Planning, Chattogram Division, praised about SERAC-Bangladesh, said, “SERAC-Bangladesh is like our own institution. We are expecting that, the initiation has been taken by them, will bring positivde impact to the adolescents SRH and family planning.
Mr. Jaytunnessa Rahim Komal, Student, Government Commerce College, Chattogram, said that there is still a lack of awareness among people about using sanitary pads in Bangladesh. The parents prefers to use cotton cloth to save money. As a result, they are at a risk to various complications regarding reproductive health. If all kind of information are included in the content regarding child marriage, TT vaccination, menstrual health management, and wet dreams.
Mr. Prantika Das Gupta, Student, Government Commerce College, Chattogram, said that through the dissemination of these information in schools, colleges, villages communities, unions will include all sort of people and showcasing through social media platform such as Facebook, YouTube, Tiktok, etc will be easily accessible to the adolescents and youth which serve the purposes.
Mr. Simanto Barua, Script Writer and Instructor, Bishotan, Chattogram, said, “Besides the schools and colleges, the teenagers who live in unpoverished area and out of education should be targeted providing SRH services and information. Additionaly, their leaders or representatives should be trained about awarness messages. I request to DDFP Chattogram for cooperating SERAC-Bangladesh in their creative intervention.”
Dr. Seheli Nargis, Assistant Director (CC) of Family Planning Chattogram said that sexual and reproductive health are more important to know during adolescence. This project will further accelerate our activities to create awareness among adolescents, youth, and the underprivileged population through health campaigning.
Mr. Nazmul Hasan, Assistant Director of Family Planning Chattogram emphasized the importance of using regional languages, such as folk songs, street theater, or storytelling, as effective SBCC tool for creating awarness and knowledge transfer to the local communities.
Sabuj Chakma, Program Manager, Sukhi Jibon Project, IPSA said, “Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) are not covering in the madrasa curriculum. By including the information in the text books of madrasa, the adolescents reaching out will be increased.
Mr. Hamid Ullah, Bureau Cheif, Daily Amader Somay, Chattogram, said that adolescent health care awareness seminars, campaigns, and miking are not seen much in the rural area. Family planning information are still not open to all in Bangladesh. As a result, misinformation spreads among teenagers. If the discussed contents are shown in the regional language of Chattogram, this program will play an important role in reaching the youth and their parents.
The chair of the workshop Mr. Mohammad Abul Kalam, Deputy Director of Family Planning, Chattogram expressed hope that the initiative taken by SERAC-Bangladesh prioritizing regional languages will be an effective toolkit on family planning in reaching out to the youth and adolescents of all regions.
The event was attended by Mr. Riyad Hossain, Program Associate of SERAC-Bangladesh. Mr. Abu Tayab, volunteer of SERAC-Bangladesh, and students from various colleges and universities in Chottogram.