Experts for promoting education on reproductive health

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RANGPUR, Nov 13, 2019 (BSS) – Health experts at a meeting here today said
life-oriented and health education are crucial for adolescents for proper
grooming up that eventually would help build a healthy nation.

They expressed the view at the orientation meeting on ‘Adolescent
Reproductive Health and Life Skill’ organised by the Maternal and Child
Health (MCH) Services Unit of the Directorate General of Family Planning
(DGFP) at a local hotel.

The Civil Surgeons, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officers, Medical
Officers, executives of Organisation of Gynecological Society of Bangladesh
(OGSB), Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) and NGOs, Heads of different
secondary level educational institutions, religious leaders, adolescents and
officials of different departments of Rangpur and Kurigram participated.

Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Mostafa Khaled Ahmed attended the meeting
as chief guest with Deputy Director of the Department of Family Planning
(DFP) for Rangpur Dr. Sheikh Md. Saidul Islam in the chair.

Regional Consultant of Family Planning Clinical Supervision and Quality
Improvement Team of the DFP for Rangpur Dr. Ahmed Munaf Chowdhury narrated
objectives of the event.

Program Manager (Adolescent Reproductive Health) of the MCH Services Unit
of DGFP Dr. Md. Joynal Haque discussed on “Present status of adolescents in
Bangladesh and steps taken by the government for providing adolescent health
services” in the meeting.

President of Rangpur BMA Dr. Delwar Hossain, Deputy Director of the DFP for
Kurigram Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, Civil Surgeon for Rangpur Dr. Hirombo Kumar
Roy, President of Rangpur unit of OGSB Professor Dr. Ferdousi Sultana
addressed.

The speakers discussed the importance of proper learning about reproductive
health by adolescents since beginning of their physical and mental changes
and creating awareness among parents to stand beside their children during
puberty.

They said adolescents’ face challenges like — sexual, reproductive and
mental health, violence and nutrition — due to lack of knowledge about using
hygienic sanitary napkins which causes sexually transmitted diseases.

They laid emphasis on inclusive GO-NGO efforts involving all stakeholders
for proper implementation of the National Strategy for Adolescent Health
2017-2030 to ensure adolescent-friendly health services for normal growth of
adolescents.

The chief guest stressed the need for ensuring life skills-based education
on reproductive health for adolescents to assist them in taking realistic
decisions at tougher moments in life and inspire others in following their
footsteps.

“Parents should be aware of behavioral changes of adolescents and save
them from addiction to playing games using electronic devices and educate on
reproductive health, food habits, hygiene, sanitation and social values for
making better citizens,” he said.