Safe childbirth is one of the women’s rights. The main and proven way to ensure the health and safe delivery of pregnant mothers is to provide and receive institutional delivery services. This can reduce the complications and mortality of pregnant mothers during childbirth. Recently, the government has formulated the National Maternal Health Strategy Paper 2019-2030. Maternal mortality rate in the country in 2010 was 194 per lakh live births (BMMS 2010), which has come down to 165 in 2019 (MICS 2019). Even then the rate is much higher. By 2030, this number should be reduced to 70 or less. These targets have been outlined in the strategy to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The target is to increase the institutional delivery rate from 54% to 85% by 2030. Besides, a target has been set to increase the delivery rate from 59 per cent to 90 per cent through trained skilled midwives (MHS 2019-2030) and government and non-government organizations are working together for this purpose.
Yet the maternal mortality rate in Bangladesh is much higher than the rate approved by the World Health Organization (165 / lakh live births). However, high maternal mortality rates can be reduced by ensuring adequate antenatal care, safe delivery and postpartum care. A healthy mother can give birth to a healthy child. Maternal, postnatal and postnatal needs are essential for the well-being of the mother. Only the awareness of the family and the people and the quality of health care can ensure the service of a pregnant mother. Therefore, it is necessary to take the pregnant mother to the health center. Reducing maternal mortality is not possible for the government alone. This requires private and national and international cooperation, public awareness and social movement. People’s representatives, local government, non-governmental organizations and the media all have a role to play in this.
Hopefully, in order to reduce maternal mortality, the Health Education Bureau under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Government of Bangladesh, Department of Health has launched the Awareness Campaign-2021 to control infections, increase safe and institutional delivery across the country. Under this campaign package, 40 awareness workshops at Upazila level, 20 billboards at Sadar Hospital at district level, production of TVC and broadcasting on five TV channels and preparation and distribution of various materials on information, education and communication (leaflets, booklets, festoons, folders, T-shirts etc.) were done.
On behalf of the Health Education Bureau of the Department of Health, Payakt Bangladesh and Adrita Visual organized a concluding workshop on Saturday (June 26) in the conference room of the Health Education Bureau of the Department of Health after implementing the campaign package. Dr. Saiful Islam, Line Director; Lifestyle, Health Education and Promotion (LHP), Bureau of Health Education, Department of Health was the chief guest at the workshop. Dr. Md. Sakhawat Hossain, Program Manager; LHP, Bureau of Health Education, Department of Health was the special guest. It was said in the workshop that Bangladesh is our country of immense potential. Established as a middle-income country under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, this country has achieved remarkable success in the health and medical sectors. In this continuity, it is very important to ensure safe motherhood in the country.
