YPSA organized inception meeting of the project titled, “Integrated SRH and SGBV Service Delivery for Rohingya Refugees in Cox’s Bazar Bangladesh” at the Ukhiya Upazila Conference Room, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar on 10th February, 2022. The project is being implemented by YPSA with support from International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in the Rohingya community under Ukhiay sub-district, Cox’s Bazar.
The objective of the project is ‘to ensure Rohingya women and girls are safe in their homes and communities through integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Protection services.’
The Honorable Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Ukhiya Upazila, Cox’s Bazar Mr. Nizam Uddin Ahmed was present as Chief Guest while Mr. Jashimuddin MD Yousuf, Upazila Family Planning Officer and Ms. Sherin Islam, Upazila Women Affairs Officer, Al Mahmud Hossain. ,Upazila Social Service Officer, Ukhiya Upazila Cox’s Bazar were present as special guests in the meeting.
Mr. Jishu Barua, Program Manager and Focal Person of YPSA presided over the inception program session while Ms. Ferdousi Akter, Project Coordinator of the aforementioned project of YPSA delivered welcome speech and presented the project presentation.
Representatives from Upazila governmental officials, different non- governmental organizations who work at camp level, journalists were present in the occasion. The government officials and other guests highly appreciated this kind of timely initiatives taken for the Rohingya women and girls to reduce GBV risks and enhance community engagement.
The honorable Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Ukhiya Upazila, Cox’s Bazar Mr. Nizam Uddin Ahmed highly praised the project goals and said “This far, the work of YPSA has always been promising. YPSA is actively involved in social development activities. They implement innovative projects that have contributed to the community development in the upazila. I hope they will continue their such efforts in the future.”
Mr. Jashimuddin MD Yousuf, Upazila Family Planning Officer highly appreciated the modality of the project and told that such project will definitely create access to integrated SRH and SGBV service delivery for Rohingya Refugees in Cox’s Bazar. However, he pointed out that in Cox’s Bazar, gender-based violence is very huge; adolescents and women need to know about their rights. He added that there is huge scope for working on this issue in Cox’s Bazar particularly in Ukhiya.
Moreover, the honorable Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Mr. Nizam Uddin Ahmed, Mr. Jashimuddin MD Yousuf, Upazila Family Planning Officer, Ukhiya upazila recommended to expand this project and include host community into this project intervention for the welfare of the local community of Cox’s Bazar.
The meeting ended with the closing speech by Mr. Jishu Barua, Program Manager and Project Focal Person, YPSA.
