Family’s Role Vital in Ensuring Adolescent Girls’ Health

By Champa Rani Mallick from Shyamnagar, Satkhira

A discussion meeting was held recently in Munshiganj Union of Shyamnagar upazila, Satkhira, focusing on the role of families in ensuring the health and well-being of adolescent girls. The event was organized by Shapla Kishori Sangathan (Adolescent Girls’ Group) with the support of BARCIK.

Presided over by Ratna Mondal, president of the Shapla Kishori Sangathan, the meeting brought together adolescent girls and their family members for an open dialogue on physical, mental, and social health issues, reproductive health, and the responsibilities of families in supporting adolescent development.

Family members shared their concerns, saying, “Living in rural areas, we often fail to pay enough attention to our daughters’ health. Many of us are not well educated, so we don’t always understand how to care for them during their periods or how to ensure their proper hygiene and clothing. They went on saying, ‘We’ve learned from TV, mobile videos, and clinics that neglect can lead to serious health issues.”

Women participants emphasized the need for greater attention to girls’ mental health and emotional well-being saying, “Women and girls should be given nutritious food, treated equally regardless of gender, and encouraged to participate in sports and recreational activities for mental development”.

The meeting concluded with a collective understanding that the active and informed involvement of every family is essential to ensuring the health and well-being of adolescent girls.