Rangpur division witnesses a maternal mortality ratio of 223 per 100,000 live births and a neonatal mortality rate of 37 per 1,000 live births.
Considering the situation, Save the Children announced the launch of a five-year project, "Strengthening the Maternal and Neonatal Health System in Rangpur,” with a budget of $10 million, at a hotel in Dhaka on Tuesday. The project will be implemented from March 1, 2023, to December 31, 2027.
The region is also affected by cultural taboos such as restrictions on adequate food intake and limitations on leaving home.
Save the Children Bangladesh compiled information from various sources, including a qualitative study conducted by SCI in 2022, BDHS 2022 reports and a BMSS study in 2016.
The findings revealed that 44% of people in this division live above the poverty line, while 58% of child marriages occur before the age of 18 and 29% of childbearing takes place before the age of 18.
Moreover, only 14% of women aged 15-49 years receive quality antenatal care (ANC) four or more times.
The project will primarily focus on Rangpur and Lalmonirhat.
The project aims to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 by reducing maternal and newborn mortality rates in the Rangpur division.
The Republic of Korea's government, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is funding this project in collaboration with Save the Children Korea under the KOICA-NGO partnership.
Dhaka TribuneThe Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare are also part of this collaboration. RDRS Bangladesh will serve as the implementing partner, with icddr,b fulfilling the role of the research and evaluation partner.
The project will be executed in three phases, with the initial phase concentrating on Rangpur and Lalmonirhat over the next five years. The results and progress of phase 1 will guide the expansion to the remaining districts in phases 2 and 3.
Dr Lima Rahman, director of health and nutrition at Save the Children Bangladesh, stated during her presentation: "This project will adopt a comprehensive approach that addresses the entire spectrum of maternal and neonatal health, including prenatal care, skilled birth attendance, postnatal care, family planning, and emergency obstetric care. By working closely with communities, healthcare providers, and policymakers, the project aims to build sustainable systems that provide equitable access to quality healthcare services to promote and ensure healthy pregnancy and safe childbirth."
Kim Taeyoung, country director of KOICA Bangladesh, said: "This collaborative project involving KOICA, Save the Children and Bangladesh people aims to establish a comprehensive maternal and neonatal health system in Rangpur over 15 years. The project focuses on improving healthcare quality and accessibility to ensure a healthier future for mothers and newborns. It aligns with SDG 3 and the government's maternal and child health policy. Together, we strive for a brighter, healthier future for Rangpur's mothers and newborns."
AHM Lokman, additional secretary of the Medical Education and Family Welfare Division and director (Administration) of the DGFP, said: "Every mother deserves the right to a safe and healthy pregnancy, as well as a healthy newborn. Challenges related to childbirth risk, gender equality, and maternal safety exist in many parts of our country. We believe that this project will contribute to the government's health sector plan and SDG targets."
Dr Ashrafi Ahmed, additional secretary of the Medical Education and Family Welfare Division, said: "By 2030, we are committed to achieving family planning goals, where Bangladesh aspires to be a country where everyone, particularly women and girls, leads healthy lives with equitable and inclusive access to rights-based family planning services, working towards attaining sustainable development goals."
This project will not be limited to Rangpur alone. Based on the results of this project in Rangpur, the initiative may be expanded to other areas, aiming to eliminate maternal and neonatal mortality rates across the country.
This project aims to benefit pregnant mothers, newborns, married women of reproductive age, and adolescents, including their husbands and in-laws. The goal is to reduce the maternal mortality ratio in Rangpur division by increasing the utilization rate of healthcare services.
By promoting gender equality and positive maternal and newborn health and family planning behaviours, the project aims to reduce childbirth risks associated with non-professional personnel.
Save the Children expects that improved awareness and health behaviours related to safe childbirth will lead to a significant impact.
