Inclusion of Youth Volunteer Peer Leaders (VPLs) will enhance the quality of adolescent-friendly health services. With a strong hope to establish this slogan, in collaboration with the Directorate General of Family Planning under USAID ‘Shukhi Jibon’ project supported by Pathfinder International, SERAC-Bangladesh organized two Sub-National Advocacy Meetings in Dhaka & Mymensingh on 12th and 20th April respectively.
The Advocacy Meeting held in Dhaka on 12th April 2022 was moderated by the Executive Director of SERAC-Bangladesh SM Shaikat while the Dhaka Divisional Family Planning Director Md. Mahbub Alam chaired the event. Beside him, the Deputy Director of District Family Planning of Narayanganj, Md. Anowar Hossain, Assistant-Director of Family Planning, District Family Planning Office, Dhaka, A.F.M. Arafat Hossain; Program Manager (A & RH), (MCH-S), Directorate General Of Family Planning, Dr. Md. Monjur Hossain, AD (MCH) MCH-S Dr. Shameem Md. Akram; ADCMCH (MCH-S Unit), Directorate General Of Family Planning Dr. A.N.M. Mostofa Kamal Mazumder were the special Guest. Also the Adolescent & Youth Manager Dr. Perveen Akter & District Program Officer Sharmin Akter from Pathfinder International were present. Upazila Family Planning Officers, Medical Officers, Sub-Assistant Community Medical Officers, other service providers, 20 Volunteer Peer Leaders from 10 Adolescent friendly health service centers of Dhaka & Narayanganj & Assistant Director (Program) Mr. Md. Salim Miah, Program Associate Songita Sarker & other staffs from SERAC-Bangladesh present accordingly.
Sub-National (Mymensingh Divisional) Advocacy Meeting on Adolescent-Friendly Health Care & Services on 20th April 2022 was moderated by Executive Director of SERAC-Bangladesh SM Shaikat with chair of Director, Divisional Family Planning Office, Mymensingh, Mohammad Abdul Awal chaired the event, Beside him the Deputy-Director of District Family Planning Office of Mymensingh, Meherunnessa Siddiquei, Deputy-Director of District Family Planning Office of Netrokona, Md. Anisur Rahman were the special guest. Also Regional Program Manager A.T.M Rafiqul Islam; MCSS coordinator Dr. Sampa Sengupta & Family Planning Compliance Coordinator Dr. Zakia Rezwana from Pathfinder International were present. Upazila Family Planning Officers, Sub-Assistant Community Medical Officers, other service providers, 20 Volunteer Peer Leaders from 10 Adolescent friendly health service centers of Mymensingh & Netrokona & Assistant Director (Program) Mr. Md. Salim Miah, Associate Program Officer Mr. Md. Shafiullah Lemon & other staffs from SERAC-Bangladesh present in the meeting.
The purpose of the meeting was to involve young people in family planning activities. Discussion on the rationale & continuation of including volunteer peer leader to the Adolescent friendly health services centers in the current context and opinions were exchanged on the increase campaigns to enhance the status of service centers and increase the activities of adolescent-friendly service centers, and recommendations were made for integrated initiatives of government & non-governmental organizations at the field level.