To reduce maternal mortality and improve access to basic healthcare services in cyclone Aila-affected Gabura, a five-day health training program has been conducted for 15 volunteer health workers.
The trained health workers will play a key role in delivering essential healthcare services in the community, including maternal and child care, nutrition awareness, antenatal check-ups, first aid, and emergency health support.
The non-governmental organization ‘Faith in Action’ is implementing a Climate-Resilient Community Development Project in 15 villages across nine wards of Gabura Union with financial support from the Canadian donor agency World Renew. As part of the project, the training was held from January 25 to January 29 at the CRC Project Office in Munshiganj under Shyamnagar Upazila.
The training concluded with a closing ceremony held at 4:00 pm on January 29. The program was chaired online by Faith in Action Executive Director Nripen Baidya, while Belal Hossain, President of the Sundarbans Press Club, attended as a guest. Others present online included Project Coordinator Timon Baroi, CRC Project Manager Milton Baroi, trainers Dr Ayon Utsab Baidya and Dr Ashraf Mahmud Sohag, MEAL Officer Prince Mark Biswas, Accountant Lawrence Dhali, Gender Officer Naomi Biswas, and other project officials.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of Faith in Action said the organization has been working in Gabura to improve livelihoods, ensure food security, and enhance the quality of healthcare services. He noted that the trained volunteers would provide services from Mouza-based Multipurpose Resilient Community Resource Centers, where they will offer primary healthcare, family planning advice, maternal and child care, nutrition counseling, and referrals for antenatal check-ups to nearby health facilities. These services are expected to significantly reduce health risks in the community.
President of the Sundarbans Press Club Belal Hossain said that healthcare services in Gabura remain inadequate, and many patients die while being transported to the upazila hospital. He emphasized the importance of community-based health initiatives and said that expanding such training programs could help reduce maternal mortality and improve overall healthcare access in the area.
Training participant Fahima Khatun said the training was timely and necessary. She stated that the trainers provided comprehensive instruction on primary healthcare along with practical field-based learning. She said the training would enable her to serve the community more effectively.
At the end of the program, certificates were distributed among the participants. The trained health workers will also receive first aid boxes and essential primary healthcare equipment in the coming days.