Smt. Sanyukta Bhatia, Mayor of Lucknow encouraged the Girl Champions by flagging off the Uttar Pradesh leg of the Bus Tour
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In a panel discussion, Ruquaiya, Shanti, Pranjali and Shameen, discussed better access to sanitation, menstrual hygiene, sexual and reproductive health rights, initiatives which prevent child marriage and safety
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"The 'Ab Meri Baari' bus journey and program will provide adolescents in Uttar Pradesh a platform to discuss their experiences, challenges and solutions around priorities areas like Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, Nutrition, Teenage Pregnancy, Child Marriage, among others. I hope young girls in Uttar Pradesh continue to play an active role in bringing about change for the better." |
Dr Udai Pratap, Additional Chief Medical Officer, Rasthriya Kishor Swasth Karaykaram (RKSK) spoke about the importance of preventing early pregnancy, the role of AFHCs, and paying attention to mental health for adolescents in Sitapur
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Local school girls attended the event in Sitapur in support of the Girl Champions' recommendations
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“In order for girls to make their own informed decisions about marriage, reproduction and their life as a whole, it is essential that they stay in school, are provided adequate information on sexual and reproductive health, and have access to quality services and provisions. These are crucial levers to delaying child marriage, combating early pregnancy, and enabling an empowered and healthy population of girls and young women,” |
“We have been doing quality implementation of the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karayakaram (RKSK) Program in the Sitapur district. Through our interventions, we have ensured the capacity building of ARSH counsellors, peer educators and also addressed gaps in Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (AFHCs). The objective is to increase the number of adolescents visiting AFHCs and utilizing the services available there.” |