Couples along with their nearest and dearest ones are getting knowledge about maternal and neonatal health together with the aspects of institutional delivery for safe motherhood in the region.
They are being given need-based knowledge related to the importance of antenatal care (ANC), postnatal care (PNC), institutional delivery, normal vaginal delivery (NVD), routine checkup during pregnancy and neonatal health through organizing couples gatherings regularly.
A couples gathering was organized at Shironti Union Health and Family Welfare Centre (UH&FWC) under Shapaher Upazila in Naogaon district for the first time in the region very recently.
Many couples and others concerned, including females, attended the event gathering knowledge about improvement of maternal, neonatal and child health.
Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Borhan Uddin told BSS that the couples' gathering was organized with the main thrust of improving maternal and reproductive health through generating awareness among the community people.
Nadira Banu, Family Welfare Visitor (FWV), said the participating couple's were given ideas about the issues related to the total maternal process, particularly the aspects of ANC, PNC, NVD and institutional delivery.
She also advised the expectant mothers for normal delivery at their facility expressing her commitment of extending all sorts of necessary support to them.
Banu said a project titled "Public Health Improvement Initiative Rajshahi (PHIIR)" was implemented in the region as an effort to expedite maternal service delivery activities.
DASCOH Foundation has implement the (PHIIR project in five upazila health complexes, 42 UH&FWCs and 110 Community Clinics under Bagmara, Charghat and Tanore Upazilas in Rajshahi and Porsha and Sapahar Upazilas in Naogaon districts.
The project improves the health status of the targeted population with special focus on maternal, neonatal and child health at primary health care level.
Shiranti UH&FWC, around five-kilometer off the upazila health complex which is the nearest higher referral center for getting comparatively better services, is assigned to provide primary healthcare services to around 29,078 population.
UP Chairman Borhan Uddin said they have taken various types of promotional activities at the grassroots for ensuring institutional delivery besides improving maternal, neonatal and child health.
Protecting maternal, neonatal and child health, particularly at the rural and village level, can be the crucial means of building a healthy nation.
"We have, so far, arranged 80 fertile couples' gatherings aimed at creating mass-awareness about maternal and neonatal health," he added.
Different other demand-driven programmes, including mothers gathering, use of loudspeaker, home visit and leaflets and poster distribution, were conducted in the rural areas to attain the cherished goals.
Various issues related to ANC, PNC and neonatal services, birth preparedness plan, NVD services, danger signs during pregnancy and after delivery services were discussed in the couple gathering elaborately.
Dr Nazmun Nahar, Assistant Professor of the Department of Gymea and Obstetrics at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital, said normal delivery is at least nine times more beneficial compared to cesarean section. All major surgeries carry risks of bad reaction to the anesthesia, infection, hemorrhaging and blood clots.
She clarified that there are also additional risks with a cesarean, such as inflammation of the uterus, surgical injury to the bowel or bladder and amniotic fluid embolism particularly when amniotic fluid enters the mother's bloodstream and can cause a serious reaction.
Dr Nahar said the present government has given utmost emphasis on institutional delivery side by side with ensuring ANC, PNC and neonatal care to achieve the SDG-3 through bringing down maternal and newborn death to the stipulated figures by 2030.
She opined they are working relentlessly to supplement the government endeavor.
As part of their efforts, many of the community and union level health facilities were reactivated through appointing FWVs on priority basis so that the grassroots people, particularly the marginalized and low-income sections, can derive total benefits of those.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha