Pregnant women getting institutional delivery facilities in Rajshahi

By Dr Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, Jan 14, 2021 (BSS) – Rural pregnant women are getting scopes of
institutional delivery as the government and non-government organisations are
providing services to ensure neonatal healthcare in Rajshahi region.

This situation has started playing a pivotal role in reducing the rate of
maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity besides protecting their health
in the grassroots areas.

“I was blessed with my first baby through normal delivery on October 14
last at Yusufpur Union Health and Family Welfare Centre (UH&FWC) under
Charghat Upazila,” said Sonali Khatun.

Khatun, wife of Akbar Ali of the nearby Chalk Kapasia village, is very
much happy with their newborn baby.

Since its revival in August last after a long time of suspension, the
centre has arranged normal deliveries of three other pregnant mothers like
Khatun with close supervision of Family Welfare Visitor (FWV) Sheuli Khatun
till December last successfully.

“We have referral services for the mothers suffering from various
pregnancy-related complexities like vaginal bleeding, eclampsia, severe
headaches and fever and delayed labor,” said Sheuli Khatun.

Union Parishad Chairman Shafiqul Islam Ratan said the centre has been
reactivated with initiative of the Public Health Improvement Initiatives
Rajshahi (PHIIR) project for welfare of local pregnant mothers, particularly
the poor and ultra-poor of the community.

He said the FWV was given appointment as contributory staff with financial
support of the project.

DASCOH Foundation has been implementing the PHIIR project in five upazila
health complexes, 42 UHFWCs and 110 Community Clinics under Bagmara, Charghat
and Tanore Upazilas in Rajshahi and Porsha and Sapahar Upazilas in Naogaon
districts for the last couple of years.

The project is intended to improve the health status of the targeted
population with special focus on maternal, neonatal and child health at
primary health care level.

“We have recorded 2,112 deliveries including 2,104 normal ones comprising
1,727 in upazila health complexes and 377 in UH&FWC in 2020 last,” said PHIIR
Project Manager Tozammel Haque.

On behalf of the project, essential equipment like refrigerators, delivery
beds, maternal care checkup beds, oxygen cylinders, weight scales, waste bins
and curtains are being provided for labor rooms of the UH&FWCs and Union Sub
Centers (USCs) to make those fit for various reproductive healthcare services
including normal delivery.

Deputy Director of the Department of Family Planning Dr Nasim Akhter said
substantial and sustainable promotion of institutional delivery is very much
effective in reducing maternal and neonatal deaths.

Prof Merina Khanom, former head of the Department of obstetrics and
gynecology in Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital Director of Rajshahi
Shishu Hospital, said strengthening the union level health facilities could
be the vital means of achieving the country’s ambitious targets related to
curbing maternal and newborn mortality rates.

“We have made remarkable progress towards reducing the maternal and
neonatal mortality rates over the last couple of years, but there are
furthermore emergency works to be done,” she said.

SOURCE NEWS

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