Shekhar Chandra Pal, a pharmacist from Dashani in Bagerhat district, South Bengal, is making a significant impact in his community by advocating for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) services while selling prescribed drugs. Shekhar has undergone many training programs during his six-year pharmacy journey, but the training on 'Introduction of SRHR Information and Services in the Pharmacy' has been the most significant one for him. He received the training under the Komlaphul pharmacy intervention with the technical support of UNFPA Bangladesh and the administrative guidance of DGHS, DGFP, and DGDA.
I understand the importance of sexual and reproductive health rights and am dedicated to providing my customers with precise and trustworthy information from my pharmacy. - says Shekhar Chandra.
One day, a 27-year-old man named Md. Nazmul Alam visited Shekhar's pharmacy holding his new baby. Shekhar understood that Nazmul was unaware of family planning, and at that moment, the need for family planning was crucial. Shekhar explained to him the importance of using the right contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Nazmul then realized how important it is to have a contraceptive plan and got an implant with his wife, a long-term contraceptive method for birth control.
Pharmacists and drug sellers in Bangladesh have easier access to the general public than healthcare professionals. They offer services for sexual and reproductive health as well as drug care in both rural and urban areas. They can teach the public about sexual and reproductive health issues and support in stopping maternal deaths, sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies (especially among young people), and other things.
The Komlaphul pharmacy intervention's objective is to integrate pharmacies into the health system by building the skills of pharmacists and putting in place accountability and regulatory systems in the Bogura and Bagerhat districts. This will allow clients to receive information, counselling, products, and referrals about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) from trained pharmacists who are professional, committed, and trusted by their clients. Shekhar's unique initiative is a testament to the success of this program and the importance of pharmacists in promoting SRHR in South Bengal.
