This SRHR-focused project is part of the Government of Bangladesh’s national program – the Fourth Health, Population and Nutrition Sector Program. This includes three components: (1) improve governance and accountability systems, including for citizen engagement; (2) health, nutrition and population systems strengthening; and (3) provision of quality health, nutrition and population services.
This project contributes to reducing maternal and child mortality rates and promoting gender equality through the provision of sexual and reproductive health and rights services. It particularly benefits over 14 million women, adolescents and children in two regions, Sylhet and Chittagong, including Cox’s Bazar district, where unmet needs are most significant. It also supports fiduciary oversight and accountability of the government’s health program, and strengthens financial and procurement management and efficiency of delivery systems. Project activities include: (1) providing maternal health care services, post-partum family planning and emergency obstetric care; (2) provide immunization for children and nutrition for infants and mothers; (3) provide services related to school based adolescent health and nutrition, family planning and sexual and reproductive health; and (4) budget planning, asset and procurement management.
The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) strengthened Ministry of Health and Family Welfare systems that contribute to improving health service delivery; (2) inclusive, efficient and equitable gender-responsive essential health, sexual and reproductive health and nutrition services that meet the needs of girls and boys, women and men; and (3) strengthened and more transparent financial management and audit systems that reduce the financial and fiduciary risks in the health sector program.
Results achieved by the World Bank through the support of the Government of Canada and other international donors as of December 2018 include: (1) 325,890 deliveries were conducted by skilled birth attendants, and 231,215 mothers with non-institutional deliveries received post-natal care from a medically trained provider within 2 days of delivery; (2) 139,665 forms of new Tuberculosis (TB) cases were notified; (3) 99.5% of the annual target was achieved for the immunization of children for measles and rubella in four districts of the Sylhet Division, and 97.8% of the annual target was attained in 11 districts of the Chattogram Division; (4) 20% of hospitals/health facilities were constructed/renovated to make them more gender- and disability-friendly ; and (5) 1,450 family welfare assistants, health assistants and sub-assistant community medical officials completed sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) training.
