ADBU & UNICEF Assam organise 2-Day Regional level workshop of CSOs & FBOs for NE States

March 20: With the aim to strengthen social mobilisation for Covid-19 RCCE and other SBC priorities in the seven states and four districts of Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU), with technical support from UNICEF, organised a two-day Regional level workshop of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) on Risk Communication and Community Engagement and Social (RCCE) and Social Behaviour Change (SBC) for the North Eastern (NE) states, on the 14 & 17 March, 2022, two days each for four states. Under the able trainers, Varsha Chanda, Chief Executive Officer and Prof. Nisar Ahmad, Executive Director, from Envisions Institute of Development, Delhi, sixty-nine participants were trained out of which thirty-seven are from various organisations.

In the Inaugural Ceremony, Dr Ashoke Roy, Director, Regional Resource Centre for North Eastern States, Branch of NHSRC, MoHFW, said, ‘community involvement is essential to build a resilient healthcare system.’ While encouraging participants to continue to work, he left them with a relevant question to ponder upon: ‘Do you want the good health of your children?’

Dr Madhulika Jonathan, Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Assam and NE States, said that ‘simple practices, like handwash and sanitation, do not need technology, it only needs practice’ and this behaviour could lead to better health. She exhorted the participants to network together saying, ‘At the end of this workshop, I hope we would have a oneness of action and direction, we would work towards having one voice in reaching the community and those that are vulnerable.’

Earlier, Dr Riju Sharma, Director, School of Humanities and Social Sciences ADBU, on behalf of the Vice-chancellor, Fr (Dr) Stephen Mavely, welcomed the dignitaries and participants. She highlighted specific concerns related to the needs of women and children in terms of health care and safe institutional delivery. The inaugural programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Mrs. Bibharani Swargiary, Assistant Professor, ADBU.

The two-day residential workshop dealt on COVID-19, Routine Immunisation, Mother and Child Health and Nutrition, WASH (ODF Plus), Climate Change & Environmental Sustainability, Behaviour Change and Role of Faith-based and Civil Society leaders. The session included inputs, group work and planning for the way forward.