Maternal Child Health & Family Planning Program (MCH-FP)
| Coverage |
Sitakund Upazilla |
| Duration |
Since 1995 |
Situation
In 1988 the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) began to develop their health care system according to the Primary Health Care approach. According to the World Health Organization, one of the strategies included providing medical supplies for the disadvantaged and poor. Primary Health Care continues to slowly expand in districts across Bangladesh .
Health is seen as a primary player for the country's new National Strategy for Economic Growth, Poverty Reduction and Social Development. YPSA has taken the leadership role and initiative to appeal to government officials, and provide health services for families in Sitakund Upazilla. They noticed that 60 per cent of the population in Sitakund consisted of poor and vulnerable people; government health services were not available to them. Some of the communities concerned are fishermen, tribal people, and low caste Hindus.
Initiative
To implement a successful health service for the area of Sitakund, YPSA uses guidelines developed by the government's previous health sector program (HPSP):
Strategy I
The Essential Service Package (ESP) was developed for a cost-effective intervention on the nation's health issues. It can be divided into five components:
Reproductive health
- Safe motherhood
- Family planning
- Reproductive tract infection (RTI)
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD), AIDS, HIV prevention and control
- Nutrition
- Prevention of complicated abortion
- Adolescent Services
- Infertility services
- Newborn Care
Child Health Care
- Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI)
- Control of Diarrhoeal Disease (CDD)
- Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) (i.e., Tuberculosis, Tetanus, Diphtheria, whooping cough, Measles, Poliomyelitis, Hepatitis B)
- Control of vitamin A deficiency
- School health education
Control of Communicable Diseases such as:
- Leprosy
- Malaria
- Filaria
- Kalazar
- Worm infestation
- Tuberculosis
Limited curative Care
- Emergency Health Services of First Aid
- Pain killers
- Bronchial asthma
- Skin disease
- Eye and ear/Nose/Throat (ENT) disease
- Toothaches
Behavior Change Communication (BCC)
The priority should be given to this point because many diseases in Bangladesh can be controlled by BCC. For example vitamin deficiency can be controlled by educating people about a balanced diet and personal hygiene.
Strategy II
YPSA aims to increase the use and demand for ESP amongst the poorest communities, especially women and children by:
- Developing an efficient collaboration with the others actors of health services in this area.
- Organizing two annual GoB/NGO workshops about health service delivery on methods about improving the service.
- Establishing joint planning with the government to monitor the field activities implemented by the government and NGOs.
- Establishing a network with many local NGOs and clubs of Sitakund Upazilla. This strong network improves the access for quality ESP delivery for the poor.
Outcome
YPSA believes in stepping stones when it comes to poverty reduction and social development. It has been playing its role in helping to achieve the 2015 Millenium Development Goals through its work in Sitakund. YPSA has the human capacity, the material equipment, and the legal permission of the government to continue a strong health care program in the Sitakund Upazilla, despite its own limited budget.
In the future YPSA plans to develop this program by incorporating a nutrition component for mothers and their children. In addition, YPSA would like to start a new program that concerns micro health insurance.
Supporting Organization
Young Power in Social Action
Case Study
Mr. Imam Uddin , 30 years old, has been married for three months. He lives in Nodalia and is running a small shop. He has known YPSA since 1991. The FHV came in his village and organized a meeting to explain their activities and invite the people to join them; so Mr. Uddin did. His community wanted to join the activities because they understood that these activities could improve their quality of life. They decided to provide one working place for a satellite clinic.
Presently, he is satisfied with YPSA activities and states:
“YPSA provides free or very low cost treatments and medical services. Before, I only went to a local Quack Doctor. Also YPSA has improved my life quality by providing health education, proper sanitation, latrine and deep tube wells. Before, I drank pond water and had no personal hygiene and no latrine . Today, there is one disabled person in my family who benefits from YPSA's therapy center. Moreover, the women realized that YPSA's work is very good because they can get contraceptives in a private way – before they would feel very shy because they had to buy it in a market.”
Two years ago, Mr. Uddin also became an HWC member and says:
“I wanted to do something for my local people to develop my village. I am now proud to be able to do it.”
As a HWC member, Mr. Uddin invites people to the clinics. He promotes these health services and explains their benefits to the community. He works especially with the men because they are the ones to take the decision in allowing their wives to benefit from the health services. He also tries to motivate students for education programs. He spreads the news when there is an EPI session and helps the FHV to organize it. Moreover, he helps the FHV if they face any problems or resistance with the community. He is very loyal in helping YPSA.
He shares his dream with us:
“100 per cent proper sanitation will be implemented in my area and I want, if possible, one hospital in my village. If one day YPSA has to stop their work, I want other HWC members to continue to make people aware about health. I think everyone respects YPSA workers because they are very active.”
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