Prescribing Progress: UNFPA’s Visionary Alliance for SRHR in Bangladesh
UNFPA Bangladesh is making strides in women’s empowerment and healthcare improvement through formalised collaborations with key private sector entities. Announced at a recent signing ceremony, this collective initiative aims to empower female pharmacists to set up their own pharmacies, thereby enhancing the delivery of quality Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) information, counseling, and referral services.
In an era where the significance of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) is steadily gaining recognition, the initiative takes a multifaceted approach. UNFPA, along with private sector partners Zaynax Health, Impact Hub Dhaka, Gram Unnayan Karma (GUK), and ToguMogu, seeks to address harmful practices by pharmacists and drug sellers while promoting SRHR services within legal frameworks. The focus is on ensuring the availability and accessibility of expert medical advice, including proper drug prescriptions for SRH issues and family planning guidance within pharmacies.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the ceremony includes provisions to improve SRH information and services for women and girls in the ready-made garment (RMG) industry. This involves advocacy, data gathering, and capacity training for both RMG owners and buyers. To facilitate these efforts, the project will develop a specialised telemedicine app, implement an entrepreneurship training curriculum tailored to the needs of female pharmacists, and provide an equity fund to support them in setting up their own pharmacy businesses.
The heart of the initiative lies in augmenting the presence of qualified and skilled female pharmacists, with a specific focus on urban areas, including slums in Bogura, Chapainawabganj, and Bagerhat districts. Collaborating with the Center for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB), the project has successfully trained 400 pharmacists in sexual and reproductive health services, telemedicine, and related areas. Beyond immediate impacts, the programme aims to raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health and rights while supporting women to venture into entrepreneurship, transforming traditional pharmacies into hubs for various health services.
This groundbreaking initiative underscores the unique collaboration between diverse partners, including the private sector, pooling resources to advance UNFPA’s mandate. Key private sector representatives from Zaynax Health, Impact Hub Dhaka, ToguMogu, and GUK participated in the MoU signing ceremony, expressing their commitment to jointly improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in Bangladesh.
A practicing female pharmacist, Ms. Armina Khatun from Bogra, shared her experience at the event, highlighting the transformative potential of women in challenging societal norms and stereotypes. UNFPA Representative Ms. Kristine Blokhus emphasised the importance of empowering aspiring female entrepreneurs, not only in providing essential health services but also as symbols of successful entrepreneurship, community service, and female empowerment. The new partnerships mark a promising step toward a future where healthcare and entrepreneurship intersect to empower women and build healthier communities.
Source: UNFPA
