Push for boosting healthcare services to pregnant women
Focus on cutting maternal and child mortality rates during climate-induced disaster
Wednesday, 20 December 2023
GAIBANDHA, Dec 19 (BSS): Speakers at a function here underscored the need for boosting healthcare services to the pregnant women to reduce child and maternal mortality rate during the period of disaster caused by climate change.
"Due to geographical location, four upazilas out of seven of the district are located in the disaster prone areas. Every year, Sundarganj, Sadar, Fulchhari and Saghata upazilas of the district experiences natural calamity called flood, cold wave creating untold sufferings to the people. The condition of pregnant mothers becomes miserable during the emergencies. In that time, an extra health care service should be ensured for them to ensure their safe delivery," they said.
The speakers made the comments while addressing a concluding ceremony of two-day refresher training on "Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP)", at the conference room of three Candles Restaurant on the bank of Ghagot river of the town this afternoon.
LAMB Hospital, World Mission Prayer League, arranged the training under UNFPA's FRRei project.
Developing capacity of healthcare providers with MISP for sexual and reproductive health during the emergencies was the objective of the training. Civil Surgeon Dr. Abdullahel Mafi addressed the ceremony as the chief guest and Superintendent of Gaibandha Modern Hospital Dr. Mahbubur Rahman spoke at the event as special guest. Deputy Director of Department of Women affairs here Nargis Jahan, Health and Family Planning Officer of Sadullapur upazila Dr. Shahinul Islam Mondal, Field Officer of UNFPA here Dr. Shaheen Akhtar, District SRHR Officer Dr. Shamima Sultana, District Coordinator of LAMB Shariful Islam and Journalist Sarker Mohammad Shahiduzzaman spoke at the function, among others.
The speakers underlined the need bringing down the maternal and infant mortality rate to 70 from current 156 per lakh to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Earlier, Deputy Director of Department of Family Planning Prosenjeet Pronoy Mishra formally inaugurated the training on Monday as the chief guest.