Promotion of Environment and Friendly Practices Through Scouts (POETS) Project
:
CREATING HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
WORKER IN BANGLADESH
Story of POETS:
Introduction
- Bangladesh has a glorious history including that of the war of liberation in 1971.
* Bangladesh is a small country of 164,000 sq. kilo meter and having a large population of 130 million.
- Major challenges in health and environment sector
- Lack of awareness and traditional behavioral practices causes
malnutrition
diarrhoea
infant mortality
communicable diseases
pollution and other environmental problems
Community Development Activities (CD)
*Bangladesh Scouts has been engaged in community development activities since early 1970’s.
Multidimensional community development activities include promotion of environment and health.
AWARNESS PROGRAM
SANITATION TREE PLANTATION
SAFE DRINKING WATER ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
Twinning projects
* Bangladesh-Australia Child Health Project (BACH)
[1986 to 1992]
> Bangladesh Scouts
> Bangladesh Girl Guides Association
> Scouts Australia
> Australian Girl Guides Association
* Bangladesh Korea Joint Community Development Project [1993 to 1994]
* Promotion of Oral Rehydration Therapy (PORT) project[1995 to 1997] with UNICEF
* Bangladesh-Japan Joint ORT Project (since 1998).
POETS
* With positive experience in behavioral change , Bangladesh Scouts elicited support from Asia-Pacific Scout Foundation in 1998 for POETS
Promotion of Environmental Education and Friendly Practices through Scouts [POETS]
First AP foundation supported project Implemented successfully in 10 remote villages covering 3000 homestead having 15000 Population .
Dissemination of information on
> health issues
> environmental issues through
> child-to-child
> child-to-parent
> child-to-community approach
* Areas of working include:
# Child Health Care &Personal hygiene
# Extended Program for Immunization
# Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT)
# Nutrition
# Safe Water and Cleanliness Campaign
# Installation of water-seal (sanitary) latrine
# Health Education
* Areas of working include (contd):
# Kitchen gardening
# Tree plantation
# Economy wood stove
# Renewable energy like bio-gas
# Protection of natural environment
A village development committee has been formed in each POETS to sustain the achievement with
# scouts
# community people
# officials and
# scouts leaders
A Village house before Scout Intervention
A Village house after Scout Intervention
Scouts and Rovers have earned proficiency badges on tree plantation, immunization, nutrition and ORT.
Through POETS scouts and rovers have perceived and also helped the villagers to perceive:
If we destroy the soil, we starve
If we pollute the water, we sicken
If we infect the air we breathe, we die.
IMPACTS OF POETS
Sanitation practices
Use sanitary toilet |
Use soap for washing hand after defication |
Dispose of excreta in toilet or hole |
Preventive Health Practices
Timely immunization of children |
Provide yellow fruits and green vegetable to children |
Provide vitamin A capsule to children in every 6 months |
Participation in tree plantation
Tree planted during last 1 year |
Know how to take care of plants |
Advised other to plant tree |
Knowledge on diarrhoea and its management
| Know all symptoms of diarrhea |
Know what to do for diarrhea management |
Know how to make laban gur saline |
Breastfeeding and weaning practices
Exclusive breastfeeding up to 5 months |
Give weaning food from 5 months of age |
Exclusive breastfeeding upto 5 months |
LESSONS LEARNED
Image of scouting has improved within the communities and beyond.
Health and Nutrition level in the community registered a marked improvement.
Scouts got the opportunity to practice, see and enjoy the fruits of their labor by applying the Scout Method.
The government of Bangladesh also gives support and shall continue support to this program .
Use of Health & FW outlets has registered an increase.
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