Millions of adolescents and youth in Bangladesh will be able to access health information and services with greater access to health education materials, guidelines, and services by digital means, through two online portals National Adolescent Health website and its mobile application.
The website and mobile application were launched at The National Adolescent Health Conference held in Dhaka on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with support from Unicef and the Embassy of Sweden launched it with the aim to increase awareness and ensure easy access to physical and mental health information and services for adolescents.
Adolescents in Bangladesh, accounting for over 36 million of the country's population, face multiple social barriers to accessing information and health services that are essential for them to grow and thrive.
Low awareness and social stigma about mental health and mental illness, for example, are widespread among communities. And when it comes to sexual and reproductive health, it is challenging for both girls and boys to seek and find trusted information and vital services.
This digital medium will work to provide them with information and help. Organizers said that they should get proper guidance without being left in the dark.
To promote widespread use of the platform, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and Ministry of Education will engage with adolescent clubs, youth peer groups and teachers in all secondary schools in the country.
“Adolescents can be powerful agents of change, and we must do all we can to empower them and to address their age-specific needs. The launch of these platforms represents the government's commitment to strengthen adolescent-friendly health services in Bangladesh,” said Zahid Maleque, Minister of Health and Family Welfare.
“Adolescence is a transformative time when teenagers are exposed not only to a new sense of independence but also new challenges. Adolescents need access to information, skills and services to enable them to reduce risk, but also to grow into capable adults that form a strong foundation for the next generation and the global future. The app gives them critical health information that they may be too shy to ask from parents, peers or health professionals,” said Sheldon Yett, Unicef representative to Bangladesh.
The Adolescent Health platforms include educational and gender-adapted guides and courses on sexual and reproductive health and rights, nutrition, violence, and physical and mental health as well as information on how and where to access adolescent-friendly health services.
“The Adolescent Health platforms have the potential to improve the lives of millions of girls and boys in Bangladesh. We are delighted to be a part of this initiative,” said Alexandra Berg von Linde, ambassador of Sweden.
In the day-long conference, researchers presented 15 research papers in its scientific session. They discussed comprehensive approach for improved sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing, mental health situation in Bangladesh, MHM support and services.
They addressed child marriage, violence against young girls and disabilities, early birth and child undernutrition, adolescent mother health care, hijra adolescence and many related issues in their presentation.
Research Assistance at Centre of Excellence for Urban Equality and Health of Brac, Nigar Sultana Zoha presented that, in 87.3% of the case, neighbours emotionally abused participants for their disability. 47.2% study respondents reported experiencing at least one act of abuse during their childhood.
The study collected data from 10 unions of five sub districts of Bogra district with 1,539 people as survey respondent.
Researcher of Bandhu Welfare Association said in his presentation, 75% transwomen hijra, 60% intersex, 50% transmen 40% MSM kothi, CD community are facing physical violence as slapping, beating, kicking, punching, hair pulling, attack, and out of medication by family, relatives, neighbour, partners, Hijra leaders local and political peoples.
Many researches said that still 70% adolescents had no proper information about menstruation and menstruation hygiene.
In the conference attended adolescents from various schools. At the time, they said that the family does not want to understand their mental health. Then they cannot talk to anyone about this matter.
Dr Helal Uddin Ahmed, associate professor, National Institute of Mental Health, said: “Teens need to talk about their problems even if their parents don't understand and want to listen. Share with a teacher, share with a friend, classmate or neighbour, but talk, don't be silent about the problem.”
He added, this is not the case that mental issues should be discussed only with experts. If necessary, they should go to the councillors of the government hospitals, because every hospital has special services for adolescents.
Besides, there are these apps for help, from where they can discuss and get solutions to their problems, he suggested.
The National Adolescent Health Conference was organized by the Directorate General of Family Planning and Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with the support of the Embassy of Sweden and Unicef.
Officials from the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Ministry of Education and partner organizations joined the event.
Zahid Maleque, Minister of Health and Family Welfare was the chief guest at the event, which was chaired by Shahan Ara Banu, Director General, DGFP.
