Strengthening Care for Poor Mothers and New-born in Bangladesh

Background

Worldwide, over 500,000 women and girls die of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth each year.

Over 99 percent of those deaths occur in developing countries such as Bangladesh. Many women in developing countries marry before the age of 20. Pregnancies in adolescent girls, whose bodies are still growing and developing, put both the mothers and their babies at risk for negative health consequences.

The consequences of maternal mortality and morbidity are felt not only by the women but also by their families and communities. In response to the contexts and challenges outlined above Marie Stopes Bangladesh (MSB) is implementing a project titled “Urban Health: Strengthening Care for Poor Mothers and New Borns in Bangladesh”.

The purpose of the project is to increase access to and utilization of quality maternal and neonatal health services in selected urban areas of Bangladesh. The Project is implemented in the 12 Districts of Bangladesh. Gaibandha District is one the selected district for the project. Gaibandha is selected considering it river prone and the low socio – economic condition of the majority of it population. One of the special future of the project is the participation of the community for smooth and successful functioning of the project.