To ensure that health services, especially mental health treatments for adolescents, are accessible, inclusive, and youth-friendly, SERAC-Bangladesh held a national consultation to institutionalize the Volunteer Peer Leader (VPL) model into Adolescent-Friendly Health Centers (AFHCs). Dr. Syed Kamrul Islam, Director (PHC & ITHC), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and Chair of the Technical Working Group, presided over the meeting.
In his welcome remarks, SM Shaikat, Executive Director of SERAC-Bangladesh, stated that the Volunteer Peer Leader (VPL) Model is an effective initiative to address the existing human resource gaps within the country’s health facilities. He noted that trained volunteer peer leaders provide basic counseling, essential adolescent health information, and referral support to adolescents. Through a government-approved training manual, they have developed the skills needed to serve as an effective bridge between health facilities and communities.
Md. Nazmul Hasan, Project Manager, SERAC-Bangladesh, delivered a technical presentation highlighting the rationale for the Volunteer Peer Leader (VPL) Model, its key interventions, and the existing gaps in adolescent health services. His presentation demonstrated how the VPL Model addresses these service gaps by improving adolescents’ access to health information, basic counseling, referral services, and adolescent-friendly healthcare.
During the discussion, the honorable guests emphasized that the sustainable integration of the VPL Model into the national health system requires a clear implementation framework, well-defined Terms of Reference (ToR), policy endorsement, and adequate financial planning. They noted that many adolescents hesitate to seek services directly from health facilities due to various social and cultural barriers. In this context, trained Volunteer Peer Leaders play a vital role in bridging the gap between adolescents and health facilities by providing basic counseling, health information, awareness raising, and referral support.
They added that, in accordance with the National Adolescent Health Strategy, efforts are being made to create Adolescent Focal Bodies at the district and upazila levels. They underlined that the VPL Model’s institutionalization inside the government health system would be made easier by incorporating it into this framework and providing it with a uniform training package, implementation guidelines, policy brief, and financial analysis. Additionally, they emphasized that adolescents’ access to inclusive and teen-friendly health services would be greatly enhanced by progressively extending the VPL Model throughout all upazilas.
During the consultation, Boni Amin, a Volunteer Peer Leader (VPL) from Barguna, shared his field experiences. He explained that through Foundation Training, VPLs receive orientation on the National Adolescent Health Strategy, adolescent development, communication skills, and group work. They subsequently conduct peer awareness sessions in schools and nearby communities, encourage adolescents to seek appropriate health services, and facilitate referrals to health facilities when needed.
The consultation was attended by Dr. Syed Kamrul Islam, Director (PHC & ITHC), DGHS and Chair of the Technical Working Group; Abu Hena Mohammad Raihanuzzaman Sarkar, Deputy Director (Primary Health Care), DGHS; Dr. Md. Sekendar Ali Mollah, Deputy Director (Planning and Research), DGHS; Dr. Nasreen Akhter , Deputy Director (Primary Health Care), DGHS; Dr. Asif Iqbal, Assistant Director (School Health) and Focal Person of the Technical Working Group, DGHS; Dr. Mir Anwar Hossain, Dr. Sabrina Haque, and Dr. Sharmin Shahnaz, Assistant Directors (PHC/ITHC), DGHS; Mahmudul Haque Azad, Deputy Director, District Family Planning Office, Barguna; Dr. Jebun Nessa Rahman, Advisor, SERAC-Bangladesh; Md. Selim Miah, Deputy Director (Programme), SERAC-Bangladesh and Member Secretary of the Technical Working Group; and former and current Volunteer Peer Leaders Kakoli Akter Shunchi, Md. Kamran Mia, Md. Bone Amin, and Sumaiya Akter. Also present at the event from SERAC-Bangladesh were Shahina Yasmin, Program Lead; Md. Salim Mia, Deputy Director (Program) and Member Secretary of the Technical Working Group; Songita Sarker, Program Manager; Lutfa Pathan, Project Manager; Md. Nazmul Islam, Associate Finance and Administration Officer; Faria Sultana Trina, Program Associate; and Enamul Haque Rony, Communication Officer.
Representatives from News Hour, The Business Standard, Dhaka Stream, Jago News24, Dainik Karatoa, Policy Paper, Dainik Vorer Darpan, Daily Kaler Kantho, The Daily Ajker Patrika, BanglaNews24, Dainik Kalbela, and Dhaka Mail were also present.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP), development partners, public health specialists, academics, members of the Technical Working Group, youth representatives, Volunteer Peer Leaders (VPLs), representatives from governmental and non-governmental organizations, and national media were also represented at the consultation.
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