Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Kamrul Hasan said `a bright future is possible only with proper knowledge of reproductive health, menstrual health management and women’s rights. This work will play an important on the reproductive health of adolescents in the three hill districts role. We must overcome obstacles to respect social reform.’ He has been spoken as the chief guest at the ‘Program Sharing and Stakeholder Engagement Meeting’ organized by Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha (BNPS) with the different level stakeholders of the project ‘Our Lives, Our Health, Our Futures’.
Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Kamrul Hasan was present as the chief guest on the occasion. Additional Divisional Commissioner (Development) of Chittagong Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, Deputy Director of Health, Chattogram Dr. Sakhawat Ullah and Assistant Director of Family Planning. Dr. Seheli Nargis spoke as a special guest. Project Manager, BNPS Sanjoy Majumder presided over the meeting.
Speaking as the chief guest, Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Kamrul Hasan said more that, “Adolescents will reach their full life beyond puberty. At this point, when the physical change comes, the fear works first. During this time they were also barred from various religious and social activities. The reality is that it is an inevitable physical & biological process. Physical, mental, and internal changes take place during this time. Adults should help them at this time. Then adolescents will not get poor support and education. Lack of improper knowledge leads to illness, and lead to long time morbidity. Finally, it pushed to death. At the government level, the Department of Health and Family Planning works in this regard, especially for reproductive health. In order to be enlightened mothers, they have to know everything properly during the puberty period, because we know that some obstacles are higher in hilly areas rather than in other areas.’
Project Manager, BNPS shared in his presentation that, 10 non-governmental development organizations (CSO) of the three hill districts are working as implementation partners in the project with the financial assistance of the European Union and the technical assistance of Simavi Netherlands. The project is being implemented by including 12,000 adolescent girls and young women in 17 Upazilas of three hill districts with the aim of eliminating gender-based inequality, sexual and reproductive health of adolescents and young women. Awareness building and implementation work is going on through 300 girls’ clubs. Each girls club has almost 40 members. The project is being conducted with the involvement of girls’ club member as well as their parents, male family members, and local leaders.
Sumit Banik & Rimi Chakma of BNPS moderate at the meeting. Deputy Director of Divisional Health, Dr. Sakhawat Ullah, Additional Director, Family Planning (CC), Dr. Seheli Nargis presence as special guest. Spoke in the meetings are Bandarban Civil Surgeon Aung Sui Prue Marma, Khagrachhari Civil Surgeon. Nupur Kanti Das, Deputy Director of Family Planning, Bandarban’s Dr. Aung Thaloo, Deputy Director of Rangamati’s Family Planning Department Anwarul Azim, Deputy Director of Family Planning, Khagrachhari’s Emran Hossain Chowdhury, Rangamati Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md. Mamun, Bandarban Additional District Magistrate Suraiya Akhter Sweety, Khagrachhari Additional District Magistrate KM Yasir Arafat, Tahzingdong’s Executive Director Ching Singh Prue, Progressive’s Executive Director Sucharita Chakma, and Trinamul Unnayan Sanghstha’s Executive Director Ripan Chakma. Dolly Pru Marma, Bishakha Tripura, and Maymaching Tripura spoke on behalf of the girls’ club members. At the event, members of the girls club of the three hill districts displayed club materials and creative work on the activities.
