On April 8, 2026, to strengthen community participation in primary healthcare services and enhance the effectiveness of Adolescent Friendly Health Services (AFHS), SERAC-Bangladesh, under the Space to Lead Project, organized a UH&FWC Management Committee Meeting at the Gourichanna Union Health & Family Welfare Center in Barguna Sadar Upazila. The initiative is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and technically supported by Plan International Bangladesh.
The meeting was chaired by Md. Mahmudul Hasan, Panel Chairman, Gourichanna Union Parishad and attended by members of the UH&FWC Management Committee and service providers. At the beginning of the meeting, the Centre In-charge (FWV) presented an overview of the health center’s service delivery, highlighting the importance of the Adolescent Friendly Health Service Corner (AFHS Corner) and discussing the key challenges affecting quality service provision.
As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen community-based health governance, SERAC-Bangladesh facilitated the regularization of UH&FWC Management Committee meetings and emphasized the importance of meaningful participation from all stakeholders. The meeting also highlighted the need to ensure the active engagement of adolescents and youth in the management committee so that their perspectives can contribute to improving adolescent-friendly health services.
Participants actively shared their experiences and recommendations regarding the current status of health services and discussed practical measures to improve service quality and accessibility. They stressed the importance of increasing community awareness about adolescent-friendly services and encouraging greater utilization of the health center, particularly among adolescents and young people.
The meeting was attended by Mr. Niaz Makhdum, Upazila Family Planning Officer, Barguna Sadar, who emphasized the importance of effective coordination among service providers, local government representatives, and community members to strengthen adolescent-friendly health services. He also highlighted the need for regular monitoring, improved service quality, and stronger community engagement to ensure that quality healthcare services are accessible to all adolescents.
In his remarks, Md. Mahmudul Hasan, Panel Chairman, Gourichanna Union Parishad, appreciated SERAC-Bangladesh for facilitating the regular management committee meetings and reaffirmed the Union Parishad’s commitment to supporting the improvement of healthcare services. He also expressed his willingness to continue collaborating with relevant stakeholders and to consider local resource mobilization for strengthening health service delivery.
Among others present at the meeting were Md. Boni Amin and Mst. Sumi, Volunteer Peer Leaders, Space to Lead Project, SERAC-Bangladesh and Rabiul Islam, Advocacy and Capacity Development Officer, SERAC-Bangladesh