The government has launched a new project to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and to improve sexual, reproductive health rights in the low-performing districts.
The project launch came just days after a shocking revelation from a survey that more women in Bangladesh were dying from childbirths now than before.
Canada, UNICEF and UNFPA will support the health ministry for the “Improving Sexual, Reproductive Health and Rights including Maternal and Newborn Health in Low Performing Districts” project.
Adolescent pregnancy, neonatal mortality, unmet need in family planning, inadequate quality maternal and neonatal health services, remain as significant challenges in Bangladesh.
There has been a plateau in the reduction of maternal mortality, but at the same time, 62,000 newborns are dying every year in Bangladesh.
Another major concern is the prevailing and growing inequity and disparities across geographical areas and wealth quintiles regarding access to essential services resulting in excess morbidity and mortality.
“Canada is proud to support the government of Bangladesh in its efforts to improve health for mothers, children and newborns across the country,” Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister for International Development, Canada said at the launching on Thursday.
“This initiative will help to save over 15,500 lives and provide 1.75 million women and girls with greater knowledge and access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.”
The project will work on health systems strengthening, capacity development, community awareness raising, and empowering adolescents through education and will build on existing health, education, and community structures, within the government systems.
UNICEF is supporting the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to promote improved home and community based new-born care behaviour and practices in 25 low performing districts of Bangladesh, covering the most deprived population.
They have taken steps to upgrade facilities with the provision of Special Care New-born Units (SCANU) for sick new-born in 32 hospitals and Newborn Stabilizing unit in Upazila health complex.
During this new project, these facilities will be scaled up to the lowest performing five districts including Jamalpur, Moulvibazar, Sirajganj, Rangamati and Patuakhali.
“As a strategic partner, we reaffirm UNICEF’s continued commitment to support the government of Bangladesh in its efforts to reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality and improve adolescent health and family planning to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). The project is indeed a timely initiative towards this end”, said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Representative.
UNFPA is already supporting the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in creating a cadre of professional midwives to provide respectful, evidence-based care for women and newborn.
UNFPA is also working with the government to increase institutional capacity to deliver integrated and equitable sexual and reproductive health services, as well as increase access to a range of rights-based family planning options and information for those who want and need them.
“Better outcomes for mothers and newborns go hand in hand with strengthening the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls, also empowering young people through education now. This is why the holistic, integrated approach to the project is pivotal,” commented Iori Kato, UNFPA Bangladesh Acting Representative.
Both UNICEF and UNFPA will work on emergency obstetric and newborn care. Both organisations will focus on community awareness, the UNFPA said in a statement.
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