KATHMANDU: The Bagmati Province Ministry of Health has announced the launch of a pioneering initiative, the “Adolescent Digital Park,” aimed at promoting safe sexual and reproductive health behaviors among teenagers.
The program will be implemented as a pilot project this year.
Speaking to journalists today, Bagmati Province Health Minister Kiran Thapa Magar said the main goal of the digital park is to ensure the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents.
He highlighted that rising cases of unsafe sexual practices, unsafe abortions, and sexual health-related diseases among adolescents underscore the urgent need for awareness and education.
“The digital park will provide teenagers with reliable information about sexual development, puberty, menstruation and hygiene, child marriage, sexual violence, safe reproductive health, the effects of smoking and alcohol, and general awareness about sexual abuse,” Minister Thapa Magar said. He added that the park will feature expert podcasts, educational content, and solutions-based discussions delivered through digital platforms.
Dr. Sumitra Gautam, Secretary of the Bagmati Province Ministry of Health, emphasized that this program, the first of its kind in Nepal, is designed to support both the physical and mental development of adolescents by providing proper guidance and information.
The initiative, managed under the Bagmati Province Health Directorate, has been allocated a budget of Rs 25 million. The program will be implemented in coordination with local municipalities, according to Dr. Narendra Jha, Director of the Health Directorate.
Dr. Jha elaborated that the digital parks will include dedicated zones for sexual and reproductive health information, multi-purpose halls, children’s playrooms, adolescent health rooms, digital display areas, and poster display walls.
Educational animated videos, infographics, short films, and documentary content will also be developed and showcased to effectively deliver key health messages.
Using modern technology, the parks will employ smart TVs, screens, uninterrupted power supply (UPS), internet services, and QR code systems for interactive engagement while ensuring safe and controlled content access.
Dr. Jha said that parks with high adolescent footfall, such as Zoo, Tribhuvan Park, and Fun Park, are being considered for the program’s launch. The pilot will be implemented in one municipality, either in Hetauda or Kathmandu.
