RAJSHAHI, March 11, 2022 (BSS) - Community support has become crucial to
make the rural healthcare facilities effective because these are very much
important for the grassroots population, particularly the marginalized and
less-income groups, during their emergency period.

     Time has come to generate awareness among the public in general about
the importance of the facilities so that they can contribute to the field of
ensuring maternal and neonatal healthcares to the target group of villagers.

     The observation came at a sustainability planning workshop for "Public
Health Improvement Initiatives in Rajshahi" at Sapahar Upazila Parishad Hall
room in Naogaon district on Tuesday last.

     DASCOH Foundation organised the meeting on behalf of its 'Public Health
Improvement Initiative Rajshahi (PHIIR)' Project supported by Swiss Red Cross
discussing and devising ways and means on how to attain the cherished goal.

     Upazila Chairman Shah Jahan Hossen addressed the meeting as chief guest,
while Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdullah Al Mamun was in the chair.

     Upazila Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Ruhul Amin, Upazila Family
Planning Officer Abdur Rahman, Union Parishad Chairman Rafiqul Islam,
Capacity Building Manager of DASCOH Foundation Israt Jahan and PHIIR Project
Manager Tozammel Haque also spoke.

     The meeting was told that the PHIIR project is being implemented in 110
community clinics, 42 Union Health and Family Welfare Centres and five
Upazila Health Complexes in Rajshahi and Naogaon districts in order to
improve health status at primary healthcare and mother, neonatal and child
health.

     Shah Jahan Hossen called for infusing more dynamism into the essential
service delivery activities of the rural facilities for ensuring healthcares
to the marginalized communities for their betterment.

     He stressed the need to boost coordination between the works of
government and non-government organisations concerned so that the grassroots
people can derive total benefits of the facilities.

     Some 25 people, including the line department officials, public
representatives, PHIIR project people and other stakeholders, joined the
meeting with a set of recommendations to attain desired yield in this
targeted field through government and non-government integrated efforts.