YPSA is Strengthening Adolescent-Friendly SRH Services in Chattogram
Access to quality Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services depends not only on the availability of healthcare facilities, but also on whether young people feel safe, respected and understood when seeking care. Building the capacity of healthcare providers is therefore an important step towards making SRH services more responsive to the needs of adolescents and young adults.
To contribute to this effort, YPSA, in collaboration with BAPSA, successfully concluded the second consecutive batch of the three-day “Capacity Building Training on Gender-Responsive Adolescent-Friendly and Culturally Sensitive SRH Services.” The training was organised under the Health System Resiliency for Improved SRHR in Bangladesh Project, funded by Global Affairs Canada and supported by the HealthBridge Foundation of Canada.
Held from 14 to 16 September 2026 at Sampan Hall, Best Western SKS in Agrabad, Chattogram, the training brought together frontline healthcare providers from the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) and Primary Health Care Centers (PHCC). The initiative aimed to equip providers with practical tools and counselling approaches to deliver gender-responsive, youth-friendly and culturally sensitive clinical care.
Throughout the three-day programme, participants explored the social and systemic barriers that can affect adolescents’ access to healthcare. The sessions placed emphasis on approaches that can help healthcare providers respond to young people in ways that are respectful, confidential and free from judgement.
For SRHR, creating a supportive interaction between healthcare providers and young people is an important part of service delivery. Adolescents and young adults may have different needs and concerns when seeking SRH information, counselling or care. Strengthening providers’ capacity to recognise and respond to these needs can help create a more welcoming service environment.
The opening day was attended by Chief Health Officer Dr. Imam Hossain Rana, along with key project leadership, including SRHR Project Team Leader Shamima Chowdhury and Director of Social Development Nasim Banu. The programme was coordinated by SRHR Project Coordinator Gazy Rashedul Alam and Project Manager Ibrahim Khalil Bhuiyan. Expert instruction and technical guidance were provided by resource person Dr. Shamima Hasnat and SRHR Project officials.
At the closing ceremony, senior management and project leadership highlighted the importance of the training and its potential contribution to quality SRHR service delivery across Chattogram. Mohd. Humayoun Kabir, Program Implementation & Training Coordinator at BAPSA, also attended the final session.
The programme concluded with the distribution of completion certificates to participating healthcare staff. By strengthening the capacity of frontline providers, the initiative contributes to ongoing efforts to make SRHR services more gender-responsive, adolescent-friendly and culturally sensitive, supporting a healthcare environment where young people can seek services with greater safety, confidentiality and dignity.