RAJSHAHI, Nov 19, 2020 (BSS) – Protecting maternal, neonatal and child
health, particularly in the rural and village level, can be the crucial means
of building a healthy nation.
Utmost emphasis should be given to expedite the services related to
maternal, neonatal and child health in the grassroots level through proper
functioning of the union health and family welfare centre, union sub centre
and upazila health complex.
The observations came at an open forum dialogue for improving maternal,
neonatal and child health services at Sapahar upazila in Naogaon district
held at its conference hall on Wednesday.
On behalf of their ‘Public Health Improvement Initiative Rajshahi (PHIIR)’
Project, DASCOH Foundation and Swiss Red Cross jointly hosted the dialogue
aimed at discussing and devising ways and means on how to utilize existing
resources side by side with mitigating emerging gaps and barriers to improve
the health services.
Upazila Chairman Shahjahan Hossain addressed the meeting as the chief
guest with Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kallyan Chowdhury in the chair.
Deputy Director of the Department of Family Planning Dr Kasturi Amina
Queen and Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Abdur Rahman Pramanik
addressed the meeting as resource persons disseminating their expertise on
the issue while and PHIIR Project Manager Tozammel Haque welcomed the
participants.
Documentation and Advocacy officer Shohel Rana gave an overview of the
existing healthcare services of the upazila and union level service delivery
institutions during his concept paper presentation, while Capacity Building
Manager Israt Jahan moderated the discussion.
Shahjahan Hossain said the effective and excellent dynamism into the
essential service delivery activities of union health and family welfare
center and union sub center is very important for ensuring healthcare
services to marginal communities.
Dr Kasturi Amina Queen mentioned that concerted efforts of government and
public entities along with NGOs can greatly enhance effective maternal
neonatal and child health services in grassroots.
The meeting was told that the project is being implemented with the main
thirst of improving health standards at primary health care and mother,
neonatal and child health centres that will supplement the government efforts
of attaining the target of the seventh five-year plan and SDG.
Some 36 people comprising government and non-government officials’
concerned, public representatives, PHIIR project people and other
stakeholders joined the meeting.