Health system resiliency for improved SRHR in Bangladesh Nepal and Vietnam

This project aims to improve comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for marginalized women children and adolescents in Bangladesh Nepal and Vietnam. Project activities include: (1) training healthcare workers to provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and nutrition services that are gender-responsive adolescent-friendly and culturally sensitive; (2) raising awareness and promoting supportive households and community environments for comprehensive SRHR; (3) strengthening leadership capacities of government bodies to promote policy changes and planning for resilient health systems responsive to the SRHR needs of women adolescents and children. In Bangladesh the project is implemented in the underserved urban areas of Chattogram and is expected to reach a total of 150 000 direct beneficiaries of which 112 500 women 450 health workers and 185 key stakeholders. This includes government officials community leaders youth leaders and school teachers. In Nepal the project is implemented in 12 municipalities across 4 districts in Karnali province. It directly benefits 11 700 children with improved nutrition 82 080 women of reproductive age with improved comprehensive SRH services and 7 860 mother’s group members and their male partners with better SRHR and nutrition knowledge. In Vietnam the project is implemented in 15 communes in the province of Son La. It benefits 5 200 children under 5 improving health and nutrition knowledge for 10 000 people and building capacity for 150 health workers and 80 teachers on comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and communication skills.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) increased availability and use of gender responsive high quality comprehensive and integrated SRH services that are accessible acceptable and sensitive to the needs of adolescents women and children; (2) increased adoption among community members of practices that advance gender equality and the health rights and autonomy of women adolescents and children; and (3) strengthened endorsement enactment and implementation of policies and guidelines by decision makers that promote resilient health systems and uphold the health rights of women and adolescents and children.