SANKALP HEW, Mission Shakti organize exposure visit for adolescent girls to District Hospital Bandipora

BANDIPORA, SEPTEMBER 24: SANKALP Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW), Mission Shakti, Department of Social Welfare Bandipora, in collaboration with the Health and Education departments, organized an exposure visit for 100 adolescent girls from various schools across the district to specialized health units at District Hospital Bandipora.

During the visit, students interacted with experts at the Mental Health Unit, District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC), Adolescent Friendly Health Clinic (AFHC), Addiction Treatment Facility (ATF), and Infant & Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Centre. The initiative aimed to familiarize participants with services related to mental health, nutrition, menstrual hygiene, reproductive health, substance abuse prevention, and life skills education.

The sessions were conducted by Bilal Ahmad Mir, Psychologist (Mental Health Unit), who spoke on mental health awareness and stress management; Showkat Shafi Bhat, Psychologist (DEIC), highlighted early interventions and prevention of substance abuse; Nuzrat un Nayeem, Lady Counselor (AFHC), guided students on menstrual hygiene and adolescent health issues; Junaid Zargar, Counselor (ATF), interacted with students on substance abuse and related myths; and Shafkat Shafi, Counselor (IYCF), explained the importance of nutrition, reproductive health, and life skills education.

Students from HSS Nadihal, BHSS NM Bandipora, Faizie Aam Bandipora, Eaglets Public School Bandipora, Space Age Bandipora, GHS Nadihal, and GHS Plan actively participated in the sessions, raising questions and engaging with the experts on various topics, making the visit highly interactive and informative.

Addressing the gathering, District Mission Coordinator of SANKALP HEW Mission Shakti emphasized that such exposure visits are vital for empowering adolescent girls with knowledge, confidence, and awareness. She reiterated the department’s commitment to ensuring the safety, security, and holistic empowerment of women and girls by linking them with services across departments.

The program concluded with appreciation for the Education department for deputing students and escort teachers and for the Health department for providing expert counseling, making the exposure visit a meaningful and impactful learning experience for all participants.