Inauguration of Adolescent Friendly Health Service (AFHS) Centre at Rajbari

In collaboration with the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) AdSEARCH by icddr,b organised the inauguration ceremony of the AFHS center at Rajbari district on 30 January 2024, as a part of the research project ‘Enabling Adolescent Friendly Health Service in a Rural area in Bangladesh: An implementation Research’. The research focuses on enabling an environment for adolescents for SRHR-related service utilisation.


The inauguration programme commenced with a speech by Dr Quamrun Nahar, Deputy Project Director, AdSEARCH and Principal Investigator of the study. She highlighted the current status of Adolescent health in rural areas and the purpose of the study. This programme was graced by Dr Shamsul Hoque, Programme Manager (Adolescent Health & School Health Programme), DGHS. Dr Hoque discussed the current methods and proposed structure of adolescent-friendly health service provision for strengthening the adolescent health system. Dr Muktadeer Arefin, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, Rajbari coordinated the programme.


In parallel, a two-day-long training session was conducted, focusing on adolescent-friendly health services from 31 January-1 February 2024. The training comprised 15 sessions organised under four thematic areas: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Gender-Based Violence, Adolescent nutrition, and Psychosocial health.


Government stakeholders from the district level in Rajbari, including the Civil Surgeon, MO-CS, Senior and Junior Health Education Officers, District Education Officer, Superintendent, Resident Medical Officer, and Deputy Director of the Islamic Foundation, actively participated in this training. Stakeholders from the Upazila such as the Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer and the Upazila Secondary Education Officer, were also engaged. Additionally, service providers at the AFHS center including the Medical Officer, Senior Staff Nurses, and SACMO, took part in the training. The training was facilitated by Dr Shamsul Hoque, Dr Shamima Akther Chowdhury, Dr Afroza Akhter, and Suhan Ahmed Omi. Dr Quamrun Nahar led and supervised the training sessions.