Gobindaganj: The Sapmara Union Health and Family Welfare Center (UHFWC) has reached a significant milestone by performing its 600th safe delivery as of last February. The center, which primarily serves mothers from backward ethnic communities, marked this achievement with a ‘600th Safe Childbirth Celebration’ event, organized by the Sapmara UHFWC Management Committee and supported by the Gaibandha District Department of Family Planning (DFP).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the event took place at the Sapmara UHFWC premises in Gobindaganj upazila. The Directorate General of Health Services, Directorate General of Family Planning, UNFPA, and LAMB provided technical assistance for the occasion. The celebration was graced by the presence of notable guests, including the Deputy Director of the Gaibandha DFP, Md Tariqul Islam, who attended as the chief guest. Gobindaganj Upazila Family Planning Officer Md Abdul Jalil chaired the event.
Assistant Director of the Gaibandha DFP Mahbuba Khatun, UNFPA Bangladesh Program Analyst Md Shamsuzzaman, Resident Medical Officer at Gobindaganj Upazila Health Complex Dr Farhad Al Asad, and UNFPA Field Officer Dr Shahin Akhter participated as special guests. Project Manager of the Santal Health Project of LAMB, Mahatab Liton, delivered the welcome speech, highlighting the significant success achieved by Sapmara UHFWC.
He credited the center’s achievement to the hard work, dedication, and social commitment of three young Santal midwives who joined in July 2020. These midwives, Nipa Soren, 29, Minoti Murmu, 28, and Silvia Mardy, 28, have played an instrumental role in achieving this milestone.
The three midwives, employed under the UK government-funded ‘Santal Health Project’ implemented by LAMB with support from UNFPA and the Directorate General of Family Planning, provide sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services, antenatal care (ANC), and postnatal care (PNC) to women, pregnant mothers, and adolescents from underprivileged communities.
On February 26, midwives Nipa and Silvia successfully conducted the 600th normal vaginal delivery of Nujaima Begum, 18, from village Samara, at Sapmara UHFWC. Nujaima delivered a healthy baby girl weighing 2.255 kg.
Nujaima expressed her gratitude towards the midwives, stating, “It was my first pregnancy. I got three-time checkups during my pregnancy. I am grateful to midwives Minoti, Nipa, and Silvia for their selfless services, support, and care extended to me like my own sisters.”
During the celebration, the chief guest presented awards to Nujaima and her newborn daughter, while community health workers Sabina Hembrom and Aduri Hasda were recognized for their contributions to maternal health in the community.
Md Shamsuzzaman commended the Santal midwives for their exemplary service in providing reproductive health care and safe deliveries to 600 mothers from disadvantaged communities. Md Tariqul Islam highlighted the revolutionary change brought about by ensuring safe childbirth, which has reduced maternal and neonatal mortality to zero in the area.
Speaking to BSS, the Santal midwives shared their motivation to pursue midwifery, driven by a lack of trained birth attendants in their community. Midwife Nipa noted the positive shift in attitudes among the Santal community, while Silvia emphasized the encouragement provided by offering free services to ensure safer and healthier lives for women.