A wide-reaching programme in Bangladesh tackles mental health and social taboos around adolescent development.
The article follows Alia*, a 17 year old girl who experienced significant loss and instability in her life. She found guidance and information at a local Adolescent Friendly Health Services (AFHS) centre in the Mirpur neighbourhood of Dhaka. AFHS is a wide-reaching programme with multiple focuses. For adolescents aged 10 –19, the programme provides information on menstrual and reproductive health and puberty. In addition, it offers psychosocial support and individual and group counselling. The programme also includes recreational and cultural activities and vocational training in fields such as computers and photography.