USAID supports rural public health facilities to advance maternal, newborn care

Improving union-level public health facilities is an “effective” way to enhance maternal and newborn care in challenging rural areas, according to the results of a project.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 4 June 2018, 07:30 PM
Updated : 4 June 2018, 07:30 PM

The United States Agency of International Development’s (USAID) MaMoni Health Systems Strengthening (MaMoni HSS) project was disseminated on Monday in Dhaka.

Health Minister Mohammed Nasim was present as chief guest at the event titled “Improving institutional deliveries by strengthening public health facilities for 24/7 services” hosted by the Directorate General of Family Planning.

Funded by USAID and implemented by Save the Children, the MaMoni HSS project is a five-year initiative to enhance public health service delivery in partnership with the health ministry and will be completed later this year.

One of the project’s objectives is to ensure Union Health and Family Welfare Centers (UH&FWCs) provide quality, round-the-clock care for mothers and newborns during and after childbirth.

At the event, Joby George, Chief of Party for USAID’s MaMoni HSS project, explained how MaMoni HSS teams made this a reality for UH&FWCs in the Habiganj, Noakhali, Lakshmipur and Jhalakathi districts.

In order to mobilise additional resources, raise community awareness and establish accountability for 24/7 health services in these hard-to-reach areas, MaMoni HSS partners worked with local government institutions, local Family Planning Department officials and community groups.

The project enabled over 100 UH&FWCs to undergo facility upgrades, purchase necessary equipment and supplies, and hire staff to fill crucial vacancies in order to begin offering round-the-clock delivery services.

Data from the MaMoni HSS project suggests that making UH&FWCs available as a safe place to give birth, day or night, can play an important role in ensuring mothers and newborns get the care they need during and after childbirth.

Births at UH&FWCs in the four districts supported by USAID’s MaMoni HSS project more than tripled between 2014 and 2017, reaching a total of 15,500 in 2017.

The health ministry officials at the event appreciated contributions from USAID’s MaMoni HSS project and explained how its results align with national trends and the government of Bangladesh’s health sector plans.

The health minister voiced his continued support for expanding health services to Bangladesh’s underserved populations and explained that the government will continue “to prioritise maternal and newborn health under the 4th Health, Population and Nutrition Sector Program.”

Kazi Mostafa Sarwar, Director General of the DGFP, noted that throughout Bangladesh the proportion of women giving birth in health facilities – including public health facilities – has steadily risen over the past decade.

He also emphasised the importance of public sector health providers, particularly union-level facilities, in ensuring access to lifesaving maternal and newborn care for poor and marginalised populations.

Caroll Vasquez, Director of USAID’s Office of Population, Health, Nutrition, Education in Bangladesh, spoke about USAID’s long-term support of Bangladesh’s health sector and reaffirmed the US government’s support for the health ministry’s initiatives to enhance maternal and newborn care.

State Minister for Health Zahid Maleque, Health Secretary Faiz Ahmed, Deputy Country Director of the Save the Children Ishtiaq Mannan and Chief of UNFPA’s Health Sathyanarayana Doraiswamy were also present at the event.

USAID has provided more than $7 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh since 1971.

In 2017, it provided over $212 million to its different types of programmes in Bangladesh.