20-year-old Sabikunnahar’s family forced her to marry her husband, Khalilur, when she was only 15 due to harmful gender norms and as a chance to escape the poverty her family was living in. Sabikunnahar dreamed of completing her education and working for the welfare of society. She completed her Secondary School Certificate (SSC) at the end of 10th grade, however her husband’s family wasn’t supportive of her continuing her studies, preferring that she not work outside of the village they live in.

Facing pressure from her husband’s family to have a child, her son Zahin was born three years after she got married, putting an end to her education and dreams of going to university. 

^{Sabikunnahar and her young son, Zahin}

In January 2022, Sabikunnahar found out about the Health Leader program run by the microfinance branch of our local health program partner, an opportunity which allowed her to learn and work in her local village. Later that year, Sabikunnahar undertook training and started working to improve the health knowledge of people in her community. She goes door to door every week to provide health education to families on basic health topics.

She has seen behavioural change in the families in her community in Kishoreganj district, Bangladesh, as they have started to implement their new health knowledge within the local community.

^{Sabikunnahar teaches her son, Zahin, to wash his hands}

Throughout her time as a Health Leader, Sabikunnahar says one of the biggest changes has been the prevention of illnesses in her own family.

My 2-year- old son Zahin often suffered from various sicknesses. Day by day, he lost weight, had an aversion to food, stomach-ache and drooling.”

Previously Sabikunnahar thought Zahin's frequent health issues were normal. But through her training, she came to understand that her son had a worm infection due to crawling on the ground, eating with dirty hands and walking in the courtyard without wearing sandals. She took action, treating her son and family with deworming tablets. Her son is healthier, and her family is much more careful about hygiene now, washing their hands regularly and keeping the courtyard clean.

She has observed that in her community rates of preventable illnesses have decreased, and pregnant women are getting regular check-ups and care.

^{Sabikunnahar hopes to use her training and knowledge to keep Zahin healthy}

To date, we're reaching 1,001,635 people through our health programs in India, Indonesia and Bangladesh. Learn more about how Health Leaders are creating meaningful changes and healthier communities across Asia. 

This program is supported by the Australian Government through the NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).