Role of the staff working in the AFHS
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), GOI, is making efforts to train the staff at health care centres to deal with adolescents. In case you or any of your friends has any problem or is concerned about any issue, you should visit the AFHS centre and discuss the same with the nurse or doctor available. The staff has now been adequately trained to handle adolescence issues through discussion and counselling.
The staff of adolescent friendly health centres is expected to:
Show respect for adolescents: the staff need to be nonjudgmental and non-critical of the issues an adolescent comes to the clinic with, including issues regarding sexual and reproductive health.
Know importance of privacy and confidentiality: the trained staff should provide privacy in physical examination without any embarrassment. The doctors, nurses and other staff should not divulge information about the adolescent patient to the parents or acquaintances, about what they came to the clinic for. They will need to tell parents only after informing the adolescent about the legal need or in view of protecting life and health of the adolescent.
Spend adequate time and show lot of patience: The staff needs to be trained to give adequate time to make the adolescent feel comfortable to discuss all issues related to puberty such as body image, relationships and sexuality.
Introduce adolescent to local peer educators: Most young people prefer talking with their peers about their personal and sensitive issues. Hence, peer educators are also introduced to the adolescents.
