Project Name:

Community based Interventions for Improving Sexual, Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) including Maternal and Neonatal Health (ImSRHR&MNH) 

 

Implementation period:

November 2018 to June 2021

 

Client: UNICEF

 

Location: Moulvibazar District of Sylhet Division

 

Duration: 30 Months 

 

Funded by: GAC, Managed and Supported by Unicef

 

Implementation area:

(Geographical Coverage): All Upazilas of Moulvibazar District in Sylhet Division 

 

Focused Population: 19,47,315

  • Pregnant women/ lactating mothers
  • < 5 Children
  • Adolescents

This intervention aims to reduce maternal, neonatal and under five child mortality and morbidity, and improve young child growth and development. The project is a cost-effective approach for district evidence-based planning and budgeting, towards improving the quality of Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) services and establishing a feasible model for health system strengthening including Health Management Information System (HMIS), which will inform the policy maker for national scale up to reduce neonatal mortality and morbidity in Bangladesh.

The 2-year long project is supported by Unicef Bangladesh and will utilize existing health structure of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) for sustaining after completion. The project would introduce Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescence Health (MNCAH) intervention at Moulvibazar district following the identified approaches to increase demand for MNCAH services among recipients through raising awareness of community people as well as rights holder. The project will also improve the availability, accessibility and quality of integrated SRHR including MNCAH service with the intention of empowering women and girls.

Project’s Focused Area:

Gender: The project will directly address gender equity issues focusing specifically on reproductive health services in gender and maternal health issues.

Equity: The project will take necessary measures to ensure services for the poor and vulnerable women who are inadequately served by the current system.

Aim/ Goal/Purpose:

The project aims to address equitable access of services among women, infant and young children, and improving quality of health services in health facilities.

Outcome/ Result:

  • Quality of integrated service delivery and effective coverage strengthened in national and subnational health systems to support the well-being of children under 5 years and their mothers, including those infected and affected by HIV, in emergency and non-emergency situation in rural and urban areas
  • Local Governance improved for producing functional linkages with Local Health systems to ensure equitable access to Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (MNCAHN) services
  • Capacity of Service Providers increased for improving quality of MNCAH services
  • Appropriate knowledge, caring practices and demand for MNCAHN services increased among the Focused population
  • Community Health Systems strengthened through improved health information system, defaulter tracking of service users

Creating Access to Health for Tea Garden Communities

Moulvibazar district has the largest number of tea gardens in Bangladesh.  Historically Tea Garden Management has been responsible for health and wellbeing of Tea garden workers and the community. They have their own health facilities. However, they have less coordination with local health system and many health interventions have been failed to reach expected level of results due to low achievement in tea garden areas. Tea garden workers have their own beliefs, taboos, norms and practices. Most of which are unfortunately harmful.

Considering the previous experience, the project has undertaken special initiatives for the tea gardens and designed specific interventions for the tea garden communities. Over the years advocacy with the tea garden management has significantly contributed in this special initiative.   The project has taken special tea garden focused initiatives like involving Health and Family Planning Managers and Local Government representatives on Community Mobilization; increasing referral linkages to the Government Health Facilities, conducting regular courtyard sessions and counseling, registration of pregnant women by Community Mobilizers (CM) and reporting coordination between Midwives and the CM. PHD also organizes ‘mother assembly’ in 8 selected tea gardens.