BSS, Rangpur :
Ensuring safe motherhood is imperative for healthier babies to attain the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in building a healthier nation by further reducing maternal and neonatal mortality rates.
Health experts made these observations at a post-rally discussion arranged at Sadar Hospital premises in the city on Sunday afternoon in observance of the Safe Motherhood Day-2017.
The Civil Surgeon Office and Lamb A2H Project of LAMB Hospital with assistance of Plan International Bangladesh brought out rally followed by discussion and distribution of prizes among best maternal and neonatal health care service providers.
Health officials, NGO activists, physicians, health workers, nurses, mothers, public representatives, teachers, students, women community leaders, socio-cultural activists and elite of the city participated in the rally.
Divisional Director (Health) Dr Mozammel Hossain attended the discussion as the chief guest with Civil Surgeon Dr Abu Md Zakirul Islam in the chair.
Deputy Director of the Department of Family Planning Dr Sheikh Md Saidul Islam, Assistant Divisional Director (Health) Dr Mahbub Hassan and Additional Police Super Saifur Rahman addressed as special guests.
Health Specialist of Plan International Bangladesh Dr Shahin Akhter delivered presentation on importance of safe motherhood in the discussion moderated by Project Manager of the Born on Time Project Md Taufikul Islam.
Narrating importance of ensuring safe pregnancy, delivery and motherhood for pregnant women at hospitals, health complexes and other places, the speakers stressed on further reducing the maternal and neonatal death rates to achieve the SDGs.
BSS from Rajshahi adds: Speakers underscored the need for ensuring antenatal and emergency obstetrics care to all the pregnant mothers for safe motherhood towards reducing maternal and infant mortality.
They said emphasis should be given on enhancing scopes of getting primary healthcare services towards the target group of people in general and the distressed community in particular.
Local Civil Surgeon Office organized the rally and discussion at its office conference hall to mark the National Safe Motherhood Day-2017 here on Sunday.
“Have Your Child born at a healthy facility, be safe” was the main theme of the day.
Various government and non-government organizations concerned joined the programme.
Civil Surgeon Dr Samjit Kumar Shaha, Assistant Director of Department of Health Dr Ismat Ara, Deputy Civil Service Dr Farhana Haque, Medical Officer Dr Pradesh Kumar Biswash and Modon Das from DASCOH spoke on the occasion.
The speakers said conducting health education campaign for the promotion of emergency obstetrics care towards reducing maternal and infant mortality has become an urgent need.
They mentioned the existing infant and maternal mortality rate could be reduced to a greater extent through expediting the primary healthcare services.
To attain a remarkable success in this regard, they emphasised the need for bringing all the pregnant poor mothers under the services through collective efforts.
Civil Surgeon Dr Samjit Kumar Shaha said the government has taken initiative for providing emergency maternity service for reducing child and maternal mortality rates, midwifery training and appointment are given in different health complexes.
Besides, ‘maternal health voucher scheme’ for poor and destitute mothers, community-based skilled birth attendants, family planning and EPI programme are being implemented.
“The government is providing cost-free maternal and neonatal healthcare services at the community clinics and Mother Health Voucher Skim to the poor women before and after their pregnancy for ensuring safe motherhood,” he said.
Special services are being extended to the expecting mothers at district hospitals, upazila health complexes and health and family welfare centres, Dr Samjit added.
