Shornokishoree: An Innovative Approach to Promote Adolescent Girl’s Health & Development in Bangladesh Dr. Nizam Uddin Ahmed Executive Director & General Secretary Shornokishoree Network Foundation

FACT: The Big Picture Annually, more than half a million women die of pregnancy related complications ◦ 99% in developing world ◦ ~ 1% in developed countries One of highest rates of child-marriage in the world. Bangladesh has high maternal mortality, 194/ live births. 80% of maternal deaths could be avoided by access to essential information and basic health services 2

Situation of Adolescent Girls in Bangladesh Over 60% of adolescents girls are married before they turned in18 By 19 years of age, 70 percent have had a child. Neonatal and maternal mortality rates remain high, because lack of accurate information, skills and access to health care. Basic knowledge SRHR is poor & disease patterns are changing with emerging new diseases…STI, HIV/AIDS, NCDs.

Situation of Adolescent Girls in Bangladesh ….cont’d Bangladesh has been awarded by UN for health sector performance & also established best practices for global references (WHO) Overall Health situation has significantly improved since 1971, despite numerous challenges But our focus needs to be on redirected towards Integrated Adolescent Reproductive & Sexual Health & Rights for reducing mortality & creating future leaders

Adolescents are Nucleus of SDGs

Where do we need to focus? 50% population are young Girls are more vulnerable Need Integrated & Comprehensive Adolescent Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights

Background ShornoKishore Network Foundation is social change maker organization for Adolescent Reproductive & Sexual Health Network, particular focus on Girls>>>Boys (Shurjokishore)

Background: …cont’d Founded in 2012 with innovations in communication, technology and linkages with media. Established countrywide network of 20 millions girls for behavior change program with social awareness campaign.  Reaching the girls initially for spreading health messages, sharing of life skills education tools and linkages with services  Shonokishoree model is to promote behavioral change through accurate information, linkages with services through their participation & empowerment

Vision: To ensure healthy and development of adolescents population in Bangladesh. Goal: To promote safe & healthy life for adolescents girls and contribute to reduce maternal mortality, child mortality, child marriage and linking with socio-economic development

Involve Adolescent Girls as key decision- makers in program design, implementation and evaluation Provide comprehensive, accurate information to their age group and sex Address barriers to accessing health and information services Empower adolescents to make life choices that are best for them Utilize the TV Media & ICT to reach the un- reach pop with commuity The Key Strategy

Bangladesh will be successful for health & development

What Information do we provide? We have materials, knowledge bank and resources to educate adolescent girls on following six basic components-  Reproductive & sexual health,  Nutrition and dietary habits,  Personal health and hygiene,  Mental health,  Healthy lifestyle  Age at marriage

Methodology  We have school based activities including daylong gathering of girls at school ground, conduct lecture, provide booklet, select school representative girls called SK  We document/shoot the activities for promoting healthy behaviors through television media  Formation of groups and conduct peer education at community by SK leaders  Training and capacity building  Message dissemination through mobile app, website and ICT  National Convention

Methodology …..cont’d  Print media, TV media and Social Media -Face book, Linked In, Twitter, Google+,  Call Centre Service  Mobile phone call communication including mobile SMS, Voice call and mobile apps etc.  Training, Seminar, Workshop, Roundtable, annual convention  Using Shorno Kishoree social network  Shorno Kishoree club at community

Target Population Adolescent Girls (Age years) School going girls, non school & hard to reach Young mothers Gatekeepers of adolescents- parents, community leaders, teacher and health workers Adolescent health & social service providers Community

The Future: Phased Approaches

Objective of 2016 Objective of 2016  Objective of the network is to cover 464 upazilas (sub- districts). Bring adolescent girls to the network thousand indigenous girls Implementation in phased manner Expanding through innovative partnership with ICT Documentation and airing program through TV media

Some Experiences and Successful Results in Bangladesh Monday, June 13, 2016

Video

Conclusions Shorno Kishore is an innovative media platform for improving Adolescent Reproductive & Sexual Health for future leaders Created a countrywide social network of 20 millions girls for improving lives with schools and out of school girls. 60 millions viewers directly watch the programme through Channel I and connected with community. Improved awareness and behaviour change among girls linking with health services Building collaboration with Government, NGOs, private sector, development partners and community We need to scale up of activities and contributing in national goals and SDGs.

Thank You We can change our future with empowered girls & mothers through media, ICT and innovations with partnership both Local & Global