Adolescents’ healthcare in poor state at districts
Despite the government's emphasis on providing health services for adolescents, no adolescents from Patuakhali and Barguna received the services in 2019 and 2020, while no boys received the service in Bhola in this period.
Only 571 boys and 3,018 girls received services in the Barishal division in this period, although the statistics of boys receiving services in Barishal division is way higher than other divisions.
The data was presented yesterday by Naripokkho member Samia Afrin, at a webinar titled "The Current State of Adolescents Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights", organised by Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) on the occasion of International Women's Day-2021.
Although the government in its adolescent health services operational plan included programmes to raise awareness on child marriage, adolescent motherhood, violence against women, menstrual hygiene management and nutrition, mental health and personal hygiene, people who need to be more aware such as parents, educational institutions, religious leaders, local and political leaders do not pay heed to these issues at all, the study found.
The current quality of healthcare services at community level is even worse, due to the absence of adequate service providers. In addition, adolescents also have no clear idea about the services and are not informed significantly.
A number of adolescents from different districts of the country also shared their problems regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights at the webinar.
Many said they live in such a community or groups, that belong to and practice age-old traditions and don't encourage any discussion on SRHR issues and in many cases, don't allow children discussing such issues.
Education Minister Dipu Moni joined the webinar as chief guest and said the responsibility of parents, teachers and health workers is to raise awareness among adolescents. The adolescents do not open up about their sexual and reproductive health with their parents or teachers, while the parents also do not make them aware of the issues.
"This is why we need to work on changing mindsets. Two lakh teachers will soon start working to provide counselling at school level," she said.
According to a 2018 Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics survey, the number of adolescents in the country is 2.77 crore.
Bangla Academy fellow Prof Dr Ratan Siddiqui; Dr Sabina Faiz Rashid, dean and professor at BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health and Umama Zillur, founder of Kotha also spoke at the event, moderated by MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam.
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