The Shongzog (Connect) Project of Save the Children is extending its operation area to Subarnachar and Begumganj Upazila of Noakhali after its successful run in Noakhali’s Companiganj and Kabirhat Upazila.

The launching ceremony of the Shongjog activity in new Upazilas took place at the Conference Room of Nice Guest House, Maijdee, Noakhali, on 8 July 2023.

Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Deputy Director of the District Family Planning Office, Noakhali, chaired the program, and Dr Nurun Nahar Begum, Line Director of the CCSDP Unit, Directorate General of Family Planning, joined the program as guests of honour.

At the launching ceremony, an open discussion was conducted by the Manager of the Shongzog Project, Dr Syeda Nabin Ara Nitu.

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Led by the Clinical Contraceptive Service Delivery Program (CCSDP) unit, under the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare of the Government of Bangladesh, and managed by Save the Children, the Shongzog project aims to increase the coverage, quality, and timing of postnatal care (PNC) and increase the uptake of postpartum family planning (PPFP) among first-time parents aged 15-24 years.

With Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University (GWU) working as the research partner, and Resource Integration Centre (RIC) as the implementation partner, this project is running forward having the technical support from Save the Children USA, and financial support from Bill & Melinda Gates foundation.

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After starting the journey of this multi-country research project in 2019, this scale-up of Shongzog activity will provide the health sector of Bangladesh with a larger scope towards achieving the goal of optimum maternal and neonatal care, according to Save the Children.

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