RAJSHAHI, March 15, 2022 (BSS) - Speakers at a function here stressed
protecting maternal health especially mothers in rural areas to build healthy
society in the country.

 Utmost emphasis should be given on proper functioning of the medical
facilities located at union and upazila levels to facilitate emergency
healthcare services, including antenatal care (ANC), postnatal care (PNC) and
neonatal care, they said.

The observation came at an open forum workshop on "Sustainability Planning
for Public Health Improvement Initiatives in Rajshahi" at Tanore Upazila
Parishad hall room in the district yesterday.
 
DASCOH Foundation organised the workshop on behalf of its 'Public Health
Improvement Initiative Rajshahi (PHIIR)' Project supported by Swiss Red
Cross.

Upazila Chairman Lutfar Haider Rashid Moyna addressed the meeting as chief
guest, while Upazila Nirbahi Officer Pankaj Chandra Debnath was in the chair.
 
Junior Consultant Dr Ruhul Amin, Medical Officer (Maternal and Child Health)
Dr Masuma Monjura Hossain, Upazila Family Planning Officer Md Monsur, Union
Parishad Chairman Ataur Rahman and PHIIR Project Manager Tozammel Haque also
spoke.

Dr Ruhul Amin told the workshop that they recorded services of 16,861 ANC,
2,951 PNC, 19,700 family planning, 66,524 children and 73,6237 general
healthcares in the upazila till December last since October 2019.
They also counted 535 normal vaginal deliveries during the same period.

Lutfar Haider called for infusing more dynamism into the essential service
delivery activities of the rural facilities for ensuring healthcares to the
marginalized communities.
 
He stressed the need for boosting coordination between government and non-
government organisations concerned so that the grassroots people can derive
total benefits of the facilities.

Some 23 people, including the line department officials, public
representatives, PHIIR project people and other stakeholders, joined the
meeting.