Despite the service environment of the country’s adolescent health centres has seen an improvement, the lack of medicine and human resources have remained as challenges, said a new study.
Accountability and responsiveness among service providers of adolescent friendly health service centres have positively increased in terms of adolescents’ health improvement, added the study published on Sunday.
According to the report, most of the adolescent boys and girls mentioned that they were satisfied with the behaviour of the service providers. However, respondents and service providers also suggested separate waiting rooms for boys and girls to ensure privacy for adolescent clients.
Plan International Bangladesh and its partner organisation Aparajeyo Bangladesh shared the findings at a findings-sharing event held in Dhaka under ‘Y-Moves’ project. The organisations conducted a community scorecard survey in 26 functional adolescent friendly health service centres in Bangladesh.
Civil Society Organization’s and Youth Engagement for Sustainability (YES Bangladesh) organised meetings separately with service recipients (adolescent and youth) and service providers using community scorecards and service providers scorecards in May 2021 and November 2021.
This report presents findings and observations from 26 selective AFHSC (Adolescent Friendly Health Service Corner) qualitative data collection by using Scorecards. A total of 876 adolescents engaged scorecard intervention in this period. Among them, males are 311 and females 565.
The report says monitoring from district family planning office and upazilla family planning office has increased in the period. Participants shared their satisfaction over improved waiting room facility, safe drinking water facility and separate toilet for girls and boys.
However, at many centres there were no separate toilet facilities for boys and girls.
Dr Mohammed Sharif, director (MCH-Services) and line director (MCRAH), DGFP, addressed the event as the chief guest.
He said, “This scorecard survey result will contribute to strengthening the government’s monitoring from district and sub-district offices. Government has started establishing 592 model union health and family welfare centres. Following the model, more centers will be established countrywide. These centres will ensure improved health care services.”
He also added that, Covid-19 has brought a unique challenge in the sector of adolescent health where ensuring general health care service became way too difficult.
Programme Manager of Directorate General of Family Planning, Md Jaynal Haque said, “We are working to improve healthcare service for adolescents and youths. Adolescent friendly healthcare is a new addition to the family planning sector.”
Afroz Mahal, acting country director of Plan International Bangladesh, said citizens and CSOs have a stronger role to play.