The Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Plan International Bangladesh to enhance access to reproductive health and wellbeing services for adolescents and youth across the country.
The MoU was signed at a formal ceremony at the DGFP conference room in Karwan Bazar, marking a strategic partnership to strengthen public health service delivery for young people.
Director General of DGFP Dr Ashrafi Ahmad, ndc, and Country Director of Plan International Bangladesh Kabita Bose attended the ceremony, along with senior officials from both organisations.
The collaboration aims to address key gaps in adolescent and youth health services by combining DGFP’s nationwide service network with Plan International Bangladesh’s technical expertise. The initiative will focus on improving service quality and accessibility, while integrating mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), youth engagement, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and climate resilience into adolescent care.
Speaking at the event, Dr Ashrafi Ahmad said Plan International Bangladesh has a long-standing partnership with DGFP and has made significant contributions to promoting adolescent and youth reproductive health and rights through various interventions. He expressed optimism that the MoU would lead to meaningful outcomes for adolescent wellbeing in Bangladesh.
Kabita Bose said ensuring access to reproductive health and wellbeing services for adolescents and youth is both a health priority and a human right. She said the partnership would help strengthen the national health system by addressing the interlinked challenges of SRHR, mental health, and climate vulnerability affecting young people.
Under the MoU, Plan International Bangladesh will provide technical support to DGFP to improve service delivery models, support capacity building of health service providers, and promote youth participation in health governance.