Adolescents in the country are often victimised due to their limited access to credible information that push them into life threatening risks and also lead to death in many cases.
Keeping this in view, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in association with Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the UNICEF launched the national adolescent health education materials and a daylong adolescent health fair Sunday to raise awareness on health issues among the adolescents.
There are 27.7 million adolescents aged 10-19 years in Bangladesh - 13.7 million girls and 14 million boys - making up about one fifth of the total population, according to recent data of the government. The project will provide the adolescents proper information, education and healthcare- related communication materials as limited access to credible information by them often makes them victims of child marriage, early and unwanted pregnancies, abuse, exploitation and malnutrition.
The programme will help them grow up to be intelligent, well-informed and responsible adults. As per the initiative, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has taken the initiative to establish two adolescent-friendly healthcare centres in each upazila (sub-district).
The service providers are trained to provide adolescent-friendly healthcare. The national adolescent health education materials will encourage them to receive care from the adolescent-friendly health care centres.
The programmes were inaugurated by Minister for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Mohammed Nasim, MP.
"Comprehensive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials on adolescent health will surely benefit adolescent boys and girls by helping them to get accurate information and needful guidance as far as their overall physical and mental health are concerned," said Edouard Beigbeder, Representative, UNICEF Bangladesh.
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