Joining Forces For Better Health: UNICEF, UNFPA, & Canada Have Partnered To Support Bangladesh

“Reducing maternal mortality has proven difficult. Our joint work will directly address the root drivers of this critical SDG for women’s health,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh, as UNICEF, UNFPA, and Canada launch a five-year project to enhance Bangladesh’s primary healthcare system.

The project, titled “Health System Strengthening for Primary Health Care,” aims to significantly lower maternal and child mortality rates in Bangladesh. The initiative focuses on underserved regions and addresses gaps in the healthcare system while promoting gender equality and access to quality health care.

Maternal mortality remains a pressing issue in Bangladesh. Despite progress over the past decade, the country has yet to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of reducing maternal mortality to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. As of 2023, the rate stands at 136. This collaborative effort seeks to change that.

With funding from Canada, the project will provide essential healthcare services to over 1.9 million women of reproductive age, including two-thirds who are adolescent girls, and nearly 6 million children, including newborns and those under five years old. The focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is central to the initiative, aiming to ensure every pregnancy is wanted and every childbirth is safe.

Adolescent girls in Bangladesh face heightened risks due to early marriage, gender-based violence, malnutrition, and limited access to sexual and reproductive health services. Alarmingly, 35 percent of births still occur at home without skilled care, increasing risks for both mothers and newborns.

Kristine Blokhus, UNFPA Representative to Bangladesh, emphasised the importance of collective efforts to achieve the SDG on maternal mortality. “The SDG on maternal mortality is achievable in Bangladesh, but this requires our concerted efforts to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, and every childbirth is safe,” she said. “With this project, we will collectively support the government health system.”

The project also aims to address environmental impacts and reduce biomedical waste, aligning with UNFPA’s green procurement strategy and UNICEF’s commitment to sustainable development. Local communities will be involved in health planning and delivery, creating more accountable and responsive health services.

Canadian High Commissioner Lilly Nicholls highlighted the broader objectives of the project. “The project aims not only to improve health outcomes in five underperforming districts but also to strengthen health systems through better planning of budgets and human resources and improved quality of care,” she said.

Strengthening healthcare systems and enhancing the capacities of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at national, district, and local levels are key aspects of the project. This holistic approach ensures that the improvements are sustainable and can be scaled across the country.

This partnership between UNICEF, UNFPA, and Canada represents a significant step towards improving sexual and reproductive health and rights in Bangladesh, contributing to the achievement of critical SDGs and ensuring healthier futures for women and children in the region.

Source: The Daily Star