A different 'health fair' at Moulvibazar
Our Correspondent, Moulvibazar
It was a different day for teenagers in the town. Hundreds of enthusiastic youths and school students, joined by their parents, thronged an exceptional 'health fair', at Moulvibazar Kashinath Alauddin High School ground. The "Health Fair for Adoles-cents", particularly focussing on reproductive health, was the first such programme in the small town. Besides healthcare, the teenagers learnt about problems from early marriage, dowry, drug addiction and other social ills, focussed in different stalls and in discussion progra-mmes. Painting, essay writing and recitation competitions, arranged by the Shishu Academy were added attractions. A cultural rprogramme presented by the tribal Monipuri children enthralled all on the concluding day. The Marie Stops Clinic Society (MSCS), an NGO working in health sector, arranged the two-day fair that concluded on December 30. HEED, Bangladesh brought another attractive issue 'Malnutrition and Nutrition -- at their stall. Financed jointly by the European Union (EU) and the United Nation's Population Fund (UNFPA), the fair was held with cooperation from the district administration. Twenty government and non-government organisations participated in the fair. These included Unnayan Sahayak Sangstha, district health department and family planning department, Sylhet unit of Sandhani Blood Bank, Moulvibazar Shishu Academy, scouts, HEED Bangla-desh, Paribarik Swastha Clinic, Moulvibazar BNSB Eye Hospital, Kulaura CRP, Fulkuri Ashar, Natun Kuri Mela, Glaxco, Prottyasha, SIDA, Nari Progoti, Moulvibazar Government High School and the Monipuri Cultural Council. The stalls provided information on reproductive health for adolescents. Tania came to the fair with her parents. "I learnt a lot of things which are neither discussed at family nor available in books", she told this correspondent. Seema and Hasan also expressed similar views. MSCS Manging Director Dr yasmin H Ahmed presided over the inaugural function, also attended by Deputy Commissioner Md Younusur Rahman, UNFPA representative Touhidul Alam and Foyes Kawser of Moulvibazar MSCS Additional Deputy Commi-ssioner Md Ayat Ullah Majumder gave away prizes on the concluding day. Teenagers from Dhaka-based Jatiya Jubo Forum also took part in the fair.
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