Chapainawabganj Correspondent 

A stakeholder workshop on health and nutrition was held in Chapainawabganj district under the 'Resilience, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Improvement (RELI)' project of the Social Development Foundation (SDF) on Monday. 

The workshop was presided over by Dr. A.K.M. Shahabuddin, Civil Surgeon of Chapainawabganj district, while the chief guest was Dr. Md. Mosiur Rahman, Superintendent of the 250-bed District Hospital in Chapainawabganj. Medical officers from various government hospitals and other health-related organizations were also present.

Representing SDF were District Manager Md. Mahabubur Rashid, Regional Manager (Livelihood & Community Finance) Md. Robiul Islam, Regional Manager (Health & Nutrition) of Jessore Region Dr. Kaymun Akter Muna, District Officer of SDF Chapainawabganj, six cluster-level Health & Nutrition Facilitators from six clusters, and two conveners of village-level Health & Nutrition Committees.

At the beginning of the workshop, the District Manager of SDF Chapainawabganj said that the RELI Project is a program of the Financial Institutions Division under the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Bangladesh, implemented by SDF. He added that through this project, initiatives are ongoing to reduce poverty, build capacity and generate employment through training, engage ultra-poor and poor communities in income-generating activities through financial support, ensure food security, create sustainable community institutions, provide one-time grants for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, build rural infrastructure, generate employment for unemployed youth, and provide support for livelihood development, health, and nutrition.

Dr. Md. Ismail, District Health & Nutrition Officer of SDF, gave a detailed presentation on SDF’s health and nutrition activities. He informed that in 150 villages of Sadar, Nachol, and Shibganj upazilas of Chapainawabganj district, a total of BDT 84,31,200 has been provided as maternity allowance to 921 pregnant mothers. Additionally, 61 high-risk mothers received BDT 10,000 each, totaling BDT 6,10,000. 

A total of 24,808 packets of winter vegetable seeds and 22,443 packets of summer vegetable seeds have been distributed. Between 127,500 and 255,000 pieces of iron, vitamin, calcium, and zinc tablets, as well as saline, have been distributed. Moreover, 27,394 families each received 12 pieces of handwashing soap.

He further mentioned that the patients referred by SDF to hospitals or institutions, both present and future, are from ultra-poor and poor communities. He urged all present to provide the best possible healthcare services to such patients.

Chief Guest Dr. Md. Mosiur Rahman, in his special remarks, highly praised SDF’s health and nutrition activities. He termed the maternity and cesarean allowance program a humane and timely initiative. The attending guests expressed hope that they would extend maximum possible services to the members of SDF’s village organizations in their respective fields.

Finally, workshop chair Civil Surgeon Dr. A.K.M. Shahabuddin congratulated everyone and wished them well, calling for the expansion of SDF’s activities across the country, and declared the conclusion of the workshop.