Government Undertakes A Project of 2,377 Crore Taka for Pregnant Women and Children

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed today between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of LGRD at the conference room of the Health Ministry. The project was aimed at giving cash incentives alongside health services.

In accordance with the MoU, the LGRD ministry will implement the project with the help of Health Ministry. This project will continue till June 2020 starting from April 1.

Under the project, pregnant women and children of 433 unions of 42 upazilas in seven districts- Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Jamalpur, Mymensingh and Sherpur will get the benefit.

Under the five-year project, during each of two pregnancies, women would get Tk 200 for each of four check-ups.

A family will receive Tk 500 a month for checking growth of their babies up to two years of age, and then Tk 1000 every three months until five years of age.

Mothers will also get Tk 500 for attending workshops on child nutrition and knowledge development.

Officials say the project has been built on the “successes” of a pilot scheme for cutting maternal deaths further and addressing malnutrition.

Bangladesh is on the track of achieving MDG 5; yet at least 194 women per 100,000 die during childbirth.

With more than one-third of the under-5 children being underweight, Bangladesh is among the top 10 countries with the highest prevalence of malnutrition.

Studies show most of the would-be mothers die while giving births as only about 30 percent women deliver at the hand of skilled providers.

Ensuring medical check-up known as ante-natal care during the pregnancy is the key to identifying the mothers at risk and prepare them for a successful childbirth.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim, who witnessed the signing between the director generals of local government, and health and family planning, said the project would encourage mothers to come to facilities for check-ups.

“We’ll have strict monitoring,” he said, “They will get postal cash card to withdraw incentives from the post offices.”

The World Bank will finance most of the Tk 23.77 billion project. The government will inject only Tk 0.37 billion.

At least 600,000 mothers will be covered by the programme and they will be tracked through Bangladesh Poverty Database.

“This project will help to strengthen postal department, and union councils,” said Local Government Division’s Secretary Abdul Maleq who was present during the signing.

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Zahid Maleque and Health Secretary Syed Manjurul Islam, among others, were also present.