Sensitisation of adolescents on reproductive health stressed

Speakers at a discussion have stressed for sensitising the adolescents on their rights to safe reproductive health education and challenge at the juncture of physical change for their normal growth and development. They were addressing the discussion arranged at the Youth Fair-2014 organised by BRAC under its Adolescent Development Programme (ADP) with assistance of different NGOs and donor organisations at Keramotia High School ground on Tuesday.
Earlier, a huge rally, participated by hundreds of students and teachers from different secondary level schools, was bought out in the city streets, before the inaugural ceremony of the daylong fair. A number of stalls were set up in the fair displaying various issues related to rights of the adolescents, sports competitions were arranged and prizes were distributed among the winners. Sadar Upazila Secondary Education Officer Roksana Akhter attended the occasion as the chief guest with Trustee of the Hindu Kallyan Trust Advocate Rothish Chandra Bhowmick Babu Sona in the chair. Former Mayor of recently defunct Rangpur pourashava Kazi Md Junnon, Deputy Director of the District Women Affairs Department Shamima Akhter Banu and Councilor of Rangpur City Corporation Jafrin Islam Ripa attended as the special guests. Senior Area Manager of Rangpur ADP of BRAC Education Programme Monika Rani Barman delivered welcome speech. In her speech, Monica Rani Barman said that BRAC has been conducting its activities for development of the adolescents on physical change, sex and reproductive health in different districts of the country under the programme since 1993. The main objectives of the programme are to create awareness among the adolescents about physical change, sexual and ‘reproductive health, hygiene, nutrition, dowry, child marriage for their normal and safer growth and preventing social crimes. She narrated different problems being faced by the adolescents at the juncture of their ages when physical change begins and way-outs to overcome the situation. The speakers narrated importance of learning about physical change at the age juncture, sexual and reproductive health, sexually transmitted diseases, premature pregnancy and complicacy during pregnancy, safe delivery and motherhood and other related issues. The chief guest said that the Youth Fair would definitely sensitise the school level boys and girls and enhance their knowledge and education on physical change, safer sex and reproductive health for their normal growth in building a healthier future nation. -BSS, Rangpur