Lack of medicine, human resources, and accessibility at adolescent-friendly health service centres remain major challenges to improving the health of adolescents, according to a study report.
Plan International Bangladesh and its partner organisation Aparajeyo Bangladesh came up with the findings in the capital Sunday.
Under the “Y-Moves” project, the organisations conducted a community scorecard survey at 26 functional adolescent-friendly health service centres of Bangladesh.
A total of 876 adolescents – 311 males and 565 females – participated in the scorecard intervention.
Most of the adolescent boys and girls mentioned that they were satisfied with the behaviours of service providers at the service centres.
However, different scenarios were found in Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Naogaon, Panchagarh, Rangamati, Sirajganj, Jashore, Kurigram, Khagrachari, Cox’s Bazar, and Barguna where lack of resources, facilities, and accessibilities were identified as some of the major problems.
Also, community scorecard reports show a limited number of adolescent boys are availing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Adolescent boys face serious challenges in their transition to adulthood, particularly regarding SRH issues.
Dr Mohammed Sharif, director of Maternal and Child Health Services Unit of the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP), said: “This scorecard survey result will contribute to strengthening the government’s monitoring from district and sub-district offices. The government has started establishing 592 model union health and family welfare centres. Following the model, more centres will be established countrywide.”
DGFP Programme Manager Md Jaynal Haque said, “We are working on improving healthcare service for adolescents and youths. Adolescent-friendly healthcare is a new addition to the family planning sector.”
Afroz Mahal, acting country director of Plan International Bangladesh, said, “Citizens and civil society organisations have a stronger role to play. There is more scope to work with the local government more strongly.”
Source: United News of Bangladesh