According to a joint survey conducted by the National Institute of Population Research and Training, US-based organisation Major Evaluation and international organisation iccdr,b, the maternal death rate has decreased significantly over the last 10 years.
The maternal death rate has reduced to 170 in every one lakh in 2016 from 322 in 2001. The death rate of the newborns, children and malnutrition rate of the children below five years has also come down remarkably.
The Awami League government in 1998 took the landmark community health clinic project aimed at reaching healthcare services to the people’s doorsteps.
At that time, a decision was taken to set up a community clinic for every 6,000 rural people and initially the government planned to establish 13,500 such clinics across the country.In three years from 1998-2001, 10,723 clinics were set up and most of them were opened in the interest of the people.
However, the BNP-Jamaat government after coming to power in 2001 shut down the clinics out of political vengeance.
After assuming office again in 2009, the Awami League government reopened the clinics and now 82 percent of rural people receive healthcare services from those clinics.
The pregnant women get urgent healthcare services during delivery and till 42 days after the delivery from the community clinics. Besides, Vitamin-A capsule is given to the new mother and her child within six weeks after the delivery.
The government is working to ensure safe motherhood and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is implementing the five-year 4th Health, Population and Nutrition Programme to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The six-month-long CSB training, voucher scheme and three-year-long midwifery course have been introduced for the health and family planning workers for development of mother and child health including emergency maternity services.
A programme will be taken and implemented for bringing down maternal death rate to 70 persons in every one lakh for attaining the SDGs by 2030.
The Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 1997 announced May 28 as the Safe Motherhood Day. Since, the day is being observed in the country by giving utmost importance to safe motherhood.
In a message on the occasion, the premier said the main goal of the day is to raise awareness among the cross section of people of the society including mother, family and health service providers about maternal health, safe delivery, and increasing quality of nutrition and medicare services and ensure their participation.
