First-time parents or those about to become parents require specialized healthcare and proper guidance.
Under the leadership of the Directorate General of Family Planning, in collaboration with Save the Children and George Washington University, the Shongjog Project has been working in Bangladesh to address these needs.
This multi-country research project has successfully completed its activities across eight upazilas in Noakhali and Madaripur districts.
Throughout its implementation, the Shongjog Project conducted several impactful studies, including a Barrier and Facilitator Analysis, PNC Expectation vs. Reality Study, Rapid Survey, Impact Evaluation, and Realist Evaluation.
On February 23 at a program held at Hotel Sheraton, the findings, results, and experiences from these studies were shared with the guests.
Two informative presentations were delivered by Dr. Abu Said Mohammad Abdullah, deputy director, RCH, CIPRB, and Bidhan Krishna Sarkar, associate scientist, icddr,b, to highlight these topics.
Following this, an interactive open discussion on the overall aspects of the Shongjog Project was moderated by Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam Talukdar, line director, clinical contraception services delivery program, Directorate General of Family Planning.
Additionally, the event featured special guest speakers who shared their insights, including Dr SM Abdullah Al Murad, line director, MNC & AAH, Directorate General of Health Services; Md. Taslim Uddin Khan, director, IEM, Directorate General of Family Planning; Sabina Parveen, director and line director, planning unit, Directorate General of Family Planning; Md. Enamul Haque, director, Finance Division, Directorate General of Family Planning; Mir Sajedur Rahman, administration division, Directorate General of Family Planning; Dr Md Sultan Ahmed, director, MCH Services, Directorate General of Family Planning; and Rifat Bin Sattar, director, program development and quality, Save the Children in Bangladesh.
Rifat Bin Sattar, director of the program development and quality division at Save the Children in Bangladesh, stated: “The Shongjog Project was implemented in two districts of Bangladesh based on the experience of the Mamoni Project. We hope that the data obtained from piloting the Shongjog Project can also be implemented in our other project areas. Additionally, the government can utilize this information and its findings for various policy-making and projects.”
Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam Talukdar, Line Director of the Clinical Contraception Services Delivery Program (CCSDP) under the Directorate General of Family Planning, said: “Although the Shongjog Project will conclude in April, the results and data obtained from it will play a significant role in providing postpartum healthcare and promoting the adoption of family planning methods among mothers through healthcare providers and service deliverers at the district and upazila levels. Even with limited manpower, the government will be able to sustain the impact of this project’s achievements.”
Chief guest of the event, Mohammad Nure Alam Siddiquee, director general of the Directorate General of Family Planning, stated: “An important aspect of the Shongjog Project is its focused work on postpartum care and family planning for first-time parents. We hope that the information and findings from the three presentations based on the research will assist the government in policy formulation.”