Health Department, Gurugram and Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA), together with Gurugram University, Martha Farrell Foundation (MFF) and Centre for Sustainable, Healthy and Learning Cities (SHLC), University of Glasgow organized a multi-stakeholder city consultation on strengthening facility-based intervention to target adolescent health on August 18, 2021 at the Office of Civil Surgeon, Gurugram.
The purpose of conducting the consultation was to:
- Discuss the findings of a participatory survey with adolescents in Gurugram (PRIA, SHLC)
- Present a platform for adolescents in urban informal settlements to envisage adolescent friendly health systems from their perspective and to put forward their agenda to the district medical officials
- Roundtable discussion with city-level health officials and other stakeholders regarding the implementation of RKSK scheme in the city and to suggest pathways to improve accessibility and acceptability of health services among adolescents
The event was attended by Civil and Deputy Civil Surgeon, Gurugram who engaged with adolescents as well as representatives of civil society and Gurugram university to explore the ways in which Government, civil society and university can play a synergistic role in institutionalising adolescent participation in improving health outcomes in urban areas. Adolescents presented a manifesto prepared by them on how ‘Mitrata clinic’ facilities can be made effective and adolescent friendly.
In order to empower adolescents to develop agency with regard to their health and well-being, they were encouraged to present their manifesto on ideal AFHC to the health authorities based on their experience of visiting AFHC as well as participation in the visioning exercise.
The key points raised by the adolescents for improving health service delivery through Mitrata Clinic:
- Given the adolescent population of Gurugram, increase number of AFHCs, especially catering to adolescents from informal settlements
- Need for male and female counsellors in each AFHC
- Sexual and Reproductive health education must be made available for boys as well
- Revive peer education component of RKSK scheme to increase use of AFHC services.
- AFHCs should be situated closer to the informal settlements to reduce cost of transportation to go the centre
- Soft skills for AFHC support and medical staff, especially skills to engage with adolescents
- Suitable, locally-relevant behaviour change communication material should be distributed to adolescents in the community
- Improve community outreach by Frontline Health Workers
Detailed manifesto can be found here.
The report of the city consultation can be accessed here.
Summarising the key points discussed during the consultation, the following key policy recommendations were presented to the city-level health officials.
- It was decided that the now defunct peer educator component of RKSK should be revived in the city. The adolescents who presented their vision would be trained as peer educators to work directly with communities.
- PRIA would facilitate training of a cadre of peer educators in the five urban informal settlements, thereby institutionalising adolescent participation
- Regular trainings for peer educators will be provided.
- The university will provide man-power(interns) in the form of health administrators as well as counsellors
