By Dr Aynal Haque
RAJSHAHI, Dec 14, 2021 (BSS) – Sapahar Upazila Health Complex (UHC) has
attained trust of the rural expectant mothers as it has infused dynamism into
its maternal and neonatal services during the last couple of years.
Located in Naogaon district, the UHC is 80 kilometers away from the
nearest district hospital and is mandated to provide services to around
250,000 people, particularly the marginalized and less-income ones.
General public, including the pregnant mothers, of the neighbourhoods are
getting services of antenatal care, institutional delivery, postnatal care,
neonatal care, family planning, child care and general health at present.
Sumaiya Khatun, 20, gave birth to her first baby through cesarean section
in the health complex around two weeks back.
After moving one clinic to another due to some complexity, the family
members rushed her to the UHC for safe delivery.
“We are happy after getting the emergency services at the facility,” said
Khatun, wife of Selim Raza of Hapania Krishnasada village, adding that they
had no financial capability to afford the costs of district level better
facilities.
Dr Ruhul Amin, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, said they have
conducted the cesarean section in the health complex on November 30 last for
the first time in around 35 years.
He himself and his colleagues are very much proud of the successful
cesarean operation despite the existing limitations. Various need-based steps
were adopted to make the facility patients-friendly.
The labor room was equipped with all requisite devices and apparatus,
including mini freeze, postpartum hemorrhage eclampsia and its protocol and
total quality management, with assistance from the “Public Health Improvement
Initiative in Rajshahi (PHIIR)” project.
Dr Ruhul Amin also said all sorts of arrangements for ensuring normal
delivery services have been ensured so that the public, particularly the
needy and poor families, are benefited.
He mentioned that the facility recorded 30 to 35 normal vaginal delivery
(NVD) per month this year, whereas it was only 22 and 28 for the entire year
of 2019 and 2020 respectively.
“We have counted 46 NVDs and one cesarean section delivery in November
2021,” he added.
DASCOH Foundation has been implementing the PHIIR project supported by
Swiss Red Cross to improve the health care with special focus on maternal,
neonatal and child health to achieve the SDG targets.
Project Manager Tozammel Haque said they are working in five upazila
health complexes, 42 Union Health and Family Welfare Centers and 110
Community Clinics under Bagmara, Charghat and Tanore upazilas in Rajshahi and
Porsha and Sapahar in Naogaon districts.
Various motivational activities, including mothers gathering, home visits,
distribution of leaflets and posters and communication with local elites, are
taking place to attain the cherished targets.