Health Education Intervention for Adolescents in the Underserved Population

BCCP has been assigned to carry out an intervention to improve the level of knowledge, attitude and practices about health education and nutrition of adolescents among the community people, parents and adolescents in the underserved areas by the Bureau of Health Education (BHE), Directorate General of Health Services. This project aims to obtain social and political commitment from national level key players, create awareness among the adolescents as well as mobilize parents of adolescents and social partners about adolescent health and nutrition, and conduct promotional activities in the underserved population and gain their support for implementation of the program and its sustainability. Accordingly a plan of action was developed and a series of activities was undertaken at national, upazila and village level. Consequently 20 districts were selected and 20 upazilas from these districts and 4 villages from each of the selected upazilas were chosen.

Supportive materials

Supportive Behavior Change Communication materials were developed for conducting a series of planned activities in phases. The advocacy package consisted of a brochure for parents and the community, a booklet Kishor Kishorider Kotha for adolescents and a fact sheet on adolescent issues for the community stakeholders. Besides an orientation video Kishor Kishorider Shashto Kotha on adolescent health including reproductive health and nutrition was also developed for screening during the activities. These materials were used in national and upazila level workshops and in village level life skills workshops and cluster group meetings to promote the importance of adolescent health and nutrition.

Briefing meeting 

Also in March, 2009 a briefing meeting was held with the Line Director, Program Managers and other concerned officials of BHE, where BCCP shared the detailed roll-out plan and the methods chosen for the stakeholders’ workshop, village level cluster group meetings and life skills orientation. The members of the field training team were introduced to the BHE officials at this meeting.

Advocacy workshop at national level

BCCP organized a national level workshop in March, 2009 at the Spectra Convention Center, Dhaka. Participants included policymakers, development partners and media professionals. This workshop consisted of presentations, sharing of information and discussion on importance of advocacy on Adolescent Health, Nutrition and Reproductive Health issues with a special focus on socio-economic development of the underserved area of the country. A keynote paper on facts and importance of adolescent health intervention and nutrition in the underserved areas was presented and was followed by a panel discussion session. At the end of the workshop the promotional video developed on this issue was also screened.

Sharing Meeting with the Health Education Officers

Following the national workshop a brief orientation and sharing meeting was organized with the Health Education Officers of the 20 selected districts where the participants were informed about the activities, the roll-out plan and were introduced to the assigned team members. The participants were oriented about the method of implementation of the activities and their support was incorporated as required at different levels for effective implementation of the events. Their suggestions were also taken into consideration.
 
Upazila Level Advocacy Workshops

The upazila level workshops took place from March to May, 2009 after the national level workshop. A total of 20 upazila level workshops were held where the respective team for each region carried out the task successfully following the guidelines with the support of the Civil Surgeon, Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer of the respective upazilas. Participants present in these workshops included representatives of local government, upazila level health professionals, relevant government officials, NGO workers, local media professionals, etc. The advocacy package was distributed among the participants and the video was also screened at the workshop.

Village Level Activities

Along with the upazila level workshops, the BCCP team also organized 77 village level orientation sessions in those selected upazilas.  The two-fold village level activity consisted of a life skills training with the adolescent boys and girls and a cluster group meeting with the parents and community leaders. The advocacy package was distributed among the participants and the video was also screened. These programs were organized in collaboration with the upazila and union level Health and Family Planning officials. The initiatives were much appreciated by both the parents and the adolescent groups.

BCCP implemented all the activities in consultation with BHE and carried out the task as per the action plan. BCCP utilized trained personnel at all levels to complete the activities in May, 2009 and was considered by the stakeholders as a successful undertaking.