Awareness Essential to Protect Mothers’ and Adolescents’ Health: Speakers
Speakers at a meeting here today unanimously said there is no alternative to awareness for protecting the health of mothers and adolescents. Safe motherhood, child nutrition, immunization, personal hygiene, safe water and sanitation - these habits of daily life can protect a family from various health risks. Administrative officials and other stakeholders made these things while addressing a boot camp at Mission Girls High School in the city's Mahishbathan area.
The story of a healthy child's growth begins with a mother's awareness, and the foundation of a healthy future is built in adolescence. That is why 10 unique boot camps on health and hygiene have been organized in Rajshahi to raise awareness among mothers and adolescent girls on these issues. World Vision Bangladesh's Rajshahi City Area Development Programme (ADP) organized the event. A total of 250 mothers and adolescent girls participated at 10 booths, 25 at each. Among them were 100 mothers of children aged 0-59 months and 150 adolescent girls.
Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam inaugurated the boot camp as the chief guest. Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Nurul Absar Sabuj, Senior Program Officer of World Vision Bangladesh Rajshahi City ADP Nilu Begum, Program Officer Ripon Halder, Junior Program Officer Arjun Roy and other officials of World Vision also spoke. The event was presided over by Lotus Chisim, Senior Manager of World Vision Bangladesh Rajshahi City ADP, while Sharmin Akter Suravi, Junior Program Officer of World Vision Bangladesh Rajshahi City ADP, moderated the program. Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul said awareness is important for protecting the health of mothers and adolescent girls. Healthy growth of a child does not depend only on medical treatment; it is directly related to issues such as maternal nutrition, proper child care, immunization, hygiene, safe water and sanitation. The Deputy Commissioner also said adolescence is a crucial time for a person's physical and mental development.
If adolescent girls are given proper knowledge about health, nutrition and personal hygiene during this time, in the future they will be able to play an important role in building a healthy family and society alongside taking care of themselves. He further said that in this kind of boot camp, instead of just giving information, there is an opportunity for hands-on learning. This gives mothers and adolescent girls a practical idea of how to practice healthy habits in their daily lives. Such initiatives need to be expanded further. After the inauguration, the Deputy Commissioner visited each booth of the camp and inquired about the hands-on activities being conducted on health, nutrition, hygiene and safe living. At that time, he spoke with the participating mothers and adolescent girls and listened to their experiences and opinions. In the boot camps, participants were given various information and practical knowledge on health and hygiene, nutrition, safe water, sanitation, child care, personal hygiene for adolescent girls, and healthy living. Participants directly took part in various activities and gained ideas about implementing these habits in their daily lives.
