The engagement of common people is crucial to ensure the functionality of community clinics as it is a public-private partnership, according to Professor Syed Modasser Ali, chairman of the Community Clinic Health Service Trust (CCHST).
“Where the Community Group (CG) is active, there the community clinic is effective and functional. Strengthening CG is a must to activate and functionalize the community clinics,” he added.
He was speaking at a workshop titled “Role of Community Clinics and Local Government Institutions to Sustain Primary Health Care and Nutrition Services” organized by World Vision Bangladesh (WVB) under USAID’s Nobo Jatra Project II (NJP II) at a hotel in Dhaka on Thursday.
Line Director of Community Based Health Care (CBHC) Dr. Md. Quiume Talukder presided over the workshop while Suresh Bartlett, National Director of WVB, inaugurated the workshop with his opening remarks while Lima Hanna Daring, Chief of Party (CoP), Nobo Jatra Project II, shared the overview of the project.
Workshop highlights crucial role of inclusivity in child development
Dr. Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Director General (Acting), Bangladesh Nutrition Council (BNNC); Dr. Mahbub Arefin Rezanur, Divisional Chief (Field), Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN); and Mustapha EL Hamzaoui, Director- Humanitarian Assistance Office, USAID Bangladesh, and Prof. Dr. Nahid Ferdausi, Director, Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib Eye Hospital & Training Institute, Gopalganj, were present as special guests.
Upazila and Union Parishad Chairman, Civil Surgeons of Khulna and Satkhira Districts, Khulna Divisional Health Department head, health officials, representatives of NGOs, journalists, among others, were also present.
Suresh Bartlett thanked USAID and the people of the United States of America for funding for sustainability in Bangladesh through Nobo Jatra Project through an effective partnership and collaboration with WVB.
In her overview, Lima Hanna Daring informed that minimum dietary diversity of women has increased from 49.0% to 53.6% in the NJP II area in four Upazilas under Satkhira and Khulna Districts. 40.9% mothers received at least four Antenatal Care (ANC) in the NJP area which was 24.1% in the baseline of the project in 2017. Due to the project intervention, exclusive breastfeeding has increased to 57.5% from 29.2%, she added.