Consultant: Neeti

Data theme: Entitlements, Health and Nutrition 

Objective: Improving focus on adolescent sexual and reproductive health counseling at Village Health and Nutrition Day (VHNDs) in consultation with counselors, frontline health workers and block level officials.

Key Outcomes:  This strategic intervention organised several meetings between the front line health workers and the adolescents in the community, where the conversations focused on understanding the adolescents’ needs, demands and recommendations. 

Youth led delegations also met with various block level officials to submit a letter demanding better service delivery of VHNDs and AFHCs with over 100 signatures from adolescents and members of the community. The adolescents visited officials like the Medical Officer In-Charge and Chief Medical Officer and requested them to visit the VHNDs in their panchayats and see the situation for themselves. Following this, officials did visit the VHNDs and have issued verbal commitments to improve focus on adolescent health and reproductive rights at the VHNDs.

The intervention also organised various programs to facilitate meetings and advocacy opportunities with district officials. A Village Health and Nutrition Day (VHNDs), several medical camps for adolescents and celebration of International Youth Day were organised. 

Local adolescents received information and entitlements as per the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) program at the VHND. At the medical camps, adolescent girls met with the gynecologist. At the International Youth Day celebration, at least 50 adolescents and youth participated and raised awareness on the need for better adolescent health services. 

Process:  Segments of UDAYA data relevant to the existing work on adolescent health and reproductive rights were presented in meetings with groups of adolescents from four panchayats in one block of Varanasi district. The data validated the on-ground reality and in the discussions that followed, the adolescents decided to focus on violence, early and forced marriage, and access to services and entitlements available under existing adolescent health programs like VHNDs.

The adolescents began with understanding the current status of services available in their immediate community, and then drafted a report with recommendations. The groups then met with frontline health workers (FLWs) to present and discuss their report and recommendations. 

The intervention also organised adolescents to present the data to the wider community, combined with a signature campaign to gain endorsement for their demand for improved counselling. Over 100 members of the community endorsed the adolescents’ recommendations.

The adolescent groups also visited various block level government officials in-charge of health service delivery like the Medical Officer In-Charge, the Chief Medical Officer etc. to present their letter. They requested officials to visit the VHNDs in their panchayats and see the situation for themselves. Following this, officials did visit the VHNDs and have issued verbal commitments to improve focus on adolescent health and reproductive rights at the VHNDs.

Various programs were also organised to facilitate meetings and advocacy opportunities with district officials, including a Village Health and Nutrition Day, several medical camps for adolescents and celebration of International Youth Day. The adolescents received information and entitlements, including opportunities to meet with a gynecologist. At least 25 girls received routine check ups, and for many, it was the first time meeting with a health professional. At the International Youth Day celebration, at least 50 adolescents and youth participated and raised awareness on the need for better adolescent health services. Several officials and FLWs have expressed support to improve the quality of services and service delivery.