SHARE Bangladesh - organized ‘Health Dialogue for Citizen’ at Monpura

icddr,b’s SHARE project in collaboration with Upazilla Health Complex, Monpura, organised a ‘Health Dialogue for Citizen: Community Participation in Healthcare’ on September 25, 2019 at Upazilla Health Complex, Monpura, Bhola.

Along with community participation the dialogue was graced by the Chief Guest, Prof. Dr. Nasima Sultana, Additional Director General (Admin), DGHS. During the session she said, “The awareness raising activities of community people could play significant role to improve maternal health situation. Most of the critical conditions can be avoided, if pregnant women visit hospitals for regular check- up”, with appreciation.

On the other hand, Ms. Selina Chowdhury, Upazilla Chairman, Monpura and the Chairperson of the event added, “Due to lack of sufficient diagnostic facilities at Monpura, sometimes, doctors cannot provide proper treatment on time” emphasised with urgency.

Dr. Md. Mahmudur Rashid, UHFPO, Upazilla Health Complex, Monpura presented the keynote speech highlighting that, how Health Dialogue worked gradually to improve the health systems in Monpura by sensitising community people. He mentioned that in 2016, European Union supported project SHARE initiated a ‘Community Support Committee’ with stakeholders of Local Government and influential community people to meet the gap of health services of Upazilla Health Complex at Monpura. Apart from co-financing, this committee do awareness raising activities by engaging school students and local women to improve maternal and adolescent health condition.

Dr. Iqbal Anwar, Scientist and Director of SHARE Project, icddr,b and Dr. Emdadul Haque, National Consultant, C-J Model, DGHS attended that dialogue. Stakeholders from Local Government Institutes, journalists, students shared their views and discussed to figure out the potential scope of community engagement to strengthen the public health sector at Monpura.

Like 2016 and 2018, this year the Health Dialogue aimed to evaluate the progress and challenges of ‘Monpura Health Model’, is a participatory approach of communities to ensure Universal Health Coverage in Hard to Reach Area.