SERAC-Bangladesh has organized a SRHR in Learning Visit for the 1st batch 8 Youth SRHR Champions at Mymensingh on 16-18 December 2023. The visit was focused on how other NGOs and volunteers in outside Dhaka areas are working with the same objective as Improving SRHR in Dhaka project has. On the 1st day they visited a school campaign and a community session. They observed how volunteers of that area work and what are the differences between their approaches, strategies and works.
On the 2nd day of the learning visit, an experience sharing meeting was organized with other NGO personnel, stakeholders, volunteers, and media that includes Md. Mahdi Hasan, Mymensingh Sadar Union Family Planning Officer, Moyeen Uddin Rayhan, Head of Daily Sabuj, Nusrat Jahan Poly, District Youth Mobilizer, BRAC, Kanak Jahan, Community Youth Leader, Shaheena Akter, Md. Salmanoor Rahman, Md. Robin Miah, Volunteer Peer Leader of Ma o Shishu Kollyan Kendra, Khagdohor and Hobir bari Union Health and Family Welfare Center, and 8 Youth SRHR Champions S M Shariful Islam, Jony Akter, Md. Masum Billah, Sweety Akter, Pranto Ashan, Masuma Akter, Enamul Haque, and Ferdosi Akter. Besides, SERAC-Bangladesh’s Program Manager Tasnia Ahmed, SBCC Officer Md. Nazmul Hasan, Program Officer Songita Sarker, Program Associate Shapla Akter, Md. Kamran Mia and Robiul Islam were also present at the meeting.
Youth SRHR Champions shared the differences between types of services for women and girls, awareness about reproductive health, how both men and women are engaged in Dhaka and Mymensingh area.
Md. Mahdi Hasan, Mymensingh Sadar Union Family Planning Officer highlighted the importance of maintaining client’s privacy and pre-counseling of family planning services. He also emphasized on arranging more school-based campaigns to educate the students by arranging debate competitions sometimes on reproductive health.
Nusrat Jahan Poly appreciated volunteers for their great effort in their community and also mentioned that it is very important to raise awareness in the underserved community.
Volunteer Peer Leaders (VPLs) expressed how their initiative as VPL has increased adolescent client flow at the government run adolescent friendly health corners (AFHCs). They ensure a friendly environment, necessary counseling and referral for both adolescents and their parents.
Youth SRHR Champions shared how they start working as Projonon Shasthya Bondhu under SERAC-Bangladesh’s Improving SRHR in Dhaka project through receiving orientation on family planning, post abortion care, pubertal changes, health and hygiene and community engagement strategies and how they arrange community sessions and what are the referral system in Dhaka city that they are working on under this project. The project is technically supported by Ipas Bangladesh and funded by Global Affairs Canada via HealthBridge Foundation of Canada.
#SERAC_Bangladesh #ISRHRD #IpasBangladesh #GAC #HealthBridge