A national workshop on “Working with individuals, families and communities (IFC) to improve maternal and newborn health” took place today on Thursday (6 February) at BRAC Centre in Dhaka city. The event was jointly hosted by BRAC Health, Nutrition and Population Programme (HNPP) and Community Clinic Health Support Trustee Board.
The workshop was an initiative to sensitise national level actors on community engagement for the World Health Organisation approved IFC framework and also to promote readiness among local level facilities to increase community demand for services.
Professor Dr Syed Modasser Ali, former adviser to the honourable prime minister, was present as the chief guest of the event. Dr Md Younus Ali Pramanik, managing director (additional secretary), Community Clinic Health Support Trust, chaired the programme.
Dr Morseda Chowdhury, associate director of HNPP, BRAC, began the workshop with a brief description of Bangladesh’s progress in maternal and child health. Dr Ariful Alam, programme head of HNPP, talked about the project which started with a pilot in Brahmanbaria and how BRAC is implementing it with funding from Enfants Du Monde.
Nicole Curti Kanyoko, health specialist from Enfants du Monde, gave a brief description of their global activities, a major portion of which revolves around implementing the IFC framework maternal and newborn care in several countries. Dr Habibur Rahman, line director, MIS, also talked about the role of community clinics in Bangladesh’s progress.
Dr Md Shah Alam, civil surgeon, Brahmanbaria, spoke on the role of the project in improving maternal and newborn health in that district. Dr Md Younus Ali Pramanik in his speech focused on the role of community clinics in achieving universal health coverage through primary health care.
