Today is our topic of discussion Maternal Health Programs in Bangladesh
Maternal Health Programs in Bangladesh
Emergency Obstetric Care (EOC) Program:
To improve the maternal health situation targeting to achieve the Millennium Development Goal 5, the GoB in collaboration with UNICEF is conducting facility based EOC Program in all the districts of Bangladesh. All the government medical college hospitals, district hospitals, upazila hospitals, and maternal and child welfare centers take part in providing EOC. It is provided in two ways-out it
A. Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care (CEMOC) and not
B. Basic Emergency Obstetric Care (BEOC).
Comprehensive EOC functions:
1. Administration of parenteral antibiotics
2. Administration of parenteral oxytocic drugs
3. Administration of parenteral anticonvulsants
4. Manual removal of the placenta
5. Manual removal of retained products (e.g., manual/ vacuum aspiration)
6. Assisted vaginal delivery
7. Caesarean section delivery
8. Blood transfusion
[Basic EOC comprises functions 1 to 6]
Demand side financing (DSF)
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare conducts an innovative program to encourage the pregnant women seek antenatal, intra-natal and postnatal cares from the skilled medical personnel. This program is known as Demand Side Financing (DSF).
Introduced in 2006 and continuing until now, the program provides a pregnant mother a reimbursable maternal
health voucher, if she takes any or other form of pregnancy related health care from skilled medical personnel
or health facilities in the program area.
The maternal health care includes a package of three antenatal check-ups, safe delivery. post-natal care within 6 weeks of delivery and services for obstetric complications.
Maternal and neonatal health (MNH) program:
With the assistance of UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO, the Director of Primary Health Care (DGHS) started to implement a Maternal and Neonatal Health program in four districts namely, Thakurgaon, Jamalpur, Narail and Moulavibazar. All the upazilas under these four districts are included in the program. The program focuses on saving maternal and newborn lives through creating need based demand and priority-based actions.
Cervical and breast cancer screening program:
The Government of Bangladesh has taken initiatives to develop a cervical and breast cancer screening program. VIA (Visual Inspection of Cervix with Acetic Acid) test identifies the existence of the precancerous condition of the cervix and early cancer.
Cervical and breast cancers are important causes of mortality and morbidity of women in Bangladesh. Early detection may significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality related to these two diseases.
Tetanus toxoid (TT) for women of child bearing age:
Bangladesh is maintaining maternal and neonatal tetanus free status since 2008. EPI Bangladesh aims to immunize the women of child bearing age with tetanus toxoid vaccine (TT) before the age of 18.
A period of 2 years and 7 months is required to complete all the 5 doses of TT vaccines. If a woman starts at the age of 15, and maintains the exact interval, she would be able to complete all the doses before she reaches the age of marriage – a protection for her entire reproductive life.
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