RAJSHAHI, Sept 20, 2022 (BSS)- Since its reactivation around four years back,
Jhikra Union Health and Family Welfare Center (UH&FWC) has gained trust and
confidence of the rural people, particularly the pregnant mothers.

Located in Bagmara upazila of the district, the facility is now providing
different types of need-based healthcare services, including antenatal care
(ANC), postnatal care (PNC), normal delivery and neonatal care, to the
grassroots people.

Around 12-kilometer away from Bagmara Upazila Health Complex, it's mandated
to provide healthcare services to around 32,000 people.

Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Rafiqul Islam said the facility has been
reactivated through need-based renovation and repairing works of the
dilapidated building at a cost of Taka 2,45,555 supported by Public Health
Improvement Initiative Rajshahi (PHIIR) project in June, 2018.
 
He said the facility had remained inoperative for around 15 years since 2003
due to multifarious problems related to lack of manpower, electricity and
water supply, life-saving drugs and other requisite support.
 
On priority basis, a skilled Family Welfare Visitor (FWV) was appointed with
a joint financial contribution of the PHIIR project and UP. Three Community
Volunteers (CVs) were also engaged there for conducting necessary works.

UP Chairman Rafiqul Islam said the labor room was equipped with all requisite
devices and apparatus, including Oxygen Cylinder, Trolley for equipment and
ANC Checkup bed, on behalf of the project for conducting normal delivery
after the deployment of FWV Rezia Parvin.

Keya Begum, 24, wife of Bazlur Rashid of Joandog, is very happy over getting
her necessary postnatal care from the facility after her normal delivery in
December last.

As her husband remains busy with his almost daylong professional work she
goes to the clinic with her own initiative. She terms the facility as vital
means for regular medical checkup. After getting her doorstep services she's
mentally satisfied.

DASCOH Foundation has been implementing the PHIIR project supported by Swiss
Red Cross (SRC) at five upazila health complexes, 42 Union Health and Family
Welfare Centres and 110 Community Clinics under Bagmara, Charghat and Tanore
upazilas in Rajshahi and Porsha and Sapahar in Naogaon.

The project is intended to improve the health status with special focus on
maternal, neonatal and child health at primary health care level.
 
PHIIR Project Manager Tozammel Haque told BSS that the present government of
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is determined to run the rural health facility
effectively. "So, we are working here to supplement the government
endeavour," he added.

In the surrounding Jhikra UH&FWC communities, the CVs have so far conducted
121 health education sessions with participation of more than 2,588 people
through using flipchart.

They are also seen visiting the houses of pregnant mothers for getting ANC,
PNC and Neonatal checkup and referring the risky mothers to the better
facilities. So far, 22 mothers' houses have been visited by the respective
FWV and staff.

Apart from this, they have conducted school health programs orienting more
than 90 students in the adjacent Jhikra High School, Vanchi Para High School
and Ronshi Bari High School.

Various issues, including reproductive health, hand washing, sanitation and
personal hygiene, menstrual hygiene management, nutrition, TT vaccine, child
marriage and gender equality, changes during puberty and COVID-19, were
focused and discussed elaborately in the programme.

Some other mass-awareness programmes, including public hearing, publicity,
satellite session and communication over phone call, are also being arranged
regularly for ensuring primary health care services to the target group of
people from the facility.

FWV Rezia Parvin delivered 1,709 ANC, 34 PNC, 6,129 child health, 676 family
planning services and 16,141 general health during the period from October
2019 to July 2022.
 
Besides, she conducted seven NVD successfully at the facility making the
service-recipients delighted side by side with her besides referring 31
others to better facilities.

A 26-member joint monitoring team led by Dr Kasturi Amina Queen, Deputy
Director of the Department of Family Planning, visited the Jhikra UH&FWC
recently discussing and devising ways and means on how to replicate the best
practices to the nearby facilities.