CURRENT ACTIVITIES
OF BAPSA
Reproductive
Health Care Services & Prevention of Unsafe Abortion and
complication Management
The main components
of the project are:
- Maintaining
training liaison for M.R. Training;
- Facilitating
the distribution of M.R. equipment;
- Quality
Care of M.R. Services;
- BCC Activities
for the front line FP and Health workers on prevention of
unsafe abortion;
- Adolescent
Health Education on Prevention of unsafe Abortion; and
- Reproductive
Health Care Services.
Reproductive
Health Clinic of BAPSA
In April 1991,
BAPSA established a Model Reproductive Health Clinic (MRHC-1),
and then MRHC-2 in Dhaka in 1998, and a Rural Reproductive
Health Center (RRHC) in Begumgonj, Noakhali, in 1997. MRHC-2
is established on a land provided by the government to serve
as a national referral center for treatment of septic abortions.
The services provided by the clinics are:
- Prevention
and management of unwanted pregnancy (M.R.) and of abortion
complication;
- Post abortion
care;
- Family.planning
services and counseling;
- Antenatal
care;
- Postnatal
care;
- T.T. for
mothers;
- Child health
care;
- Management
of RTI/STD;
- Treatment
of gynecological problems;
- Immunization;
- Counseling
on HIV/AIDS;
- Adolescent
reproductive health education /services;
- Ultra-sonogram/Pathological
services; and
- Counseling
services on health and sexuality at clinic and BCC activities
at the community level.
The above mentioned
activities are funded by SIDA.
Urban
Primary Health Care Project (UPHCP)
The Urban Primary
Health Care Project (UPHCP) initiated by the Bangladesh Government
through the Ministry of LGRD&C is being operated by the
City Corporation. The purpose is to improve the health of
urban poor by guaranteeing their access to health services
and improving the ways in which such health services are to
be provided in urban areas. In November. 2001, BAPSA was awarded
the responsibility of UPHCP in partnership Area-3 which consists
of wards 58, 59, 60, 63, 64 and 65, Kamrangir Char, and Nawab
Char covering a population of about 400,000. This area is
situated in the south-western strip of Dhaka City. The area
has several tanneries and the population inhabiting the area
is mostly poverty stricken. The activities are carried out
through 9 Primary Health Care Centers and one Comprehensive
Reproductive Health Care Center (Maternity Center), The project
activities are funded by ADB, UNFPA, NDF and the Government
of Bangladesh.
Six essential services as provided relate to the following:
- Reproductive
Health Care;
- Child Health
Care;
- Limited
Curative Care;
- Treatment
of Common Illness;
- Communicable
diseases; and
- Violence
against Women.
The project
provides the mentioned services through qualified and experienced
doctors at minimal service charges fixed by the City Corporation.
For the ultra poor, there exists a safety net provision. At
the maternity center, deliveries both normal and Caesarian
are conducted at low cost.
Adolescents Reproductive Health Care Project
During the
last five years, BAPSA also provided adolescents' reproductive
health care services in order to enable the adolescents to
understand reproductive health, nutrition, personal hygiene,
and offers need-based health services. For behaviour change,
various communication methods such as counseling, group discussions,
court-yards sittings and meetings with the door-keepers at
the clinic and community people are being carried out.
Since January,
2002, with the financial support of the BPHC, BAPSP is implementing
an Adolescents Reproductive Health Care Project in Begumgonj,
Noakhali. The objectives are to create awareness on reproductive
health, through BCC and to provide reproductive health services
for adolescents through an adolescent friendly clinic. The
expected coverage is 10,000 rural adolescents.
Publication
of M. R. Newsletter
Due to religious
and political reasons, the mass-media is hesitant to publicize
abortion related messages. Considering this constraint, BAPSA
publishes quarterly M.R. Newsletter to enhance the knowledge
of the field workers and as well enable them to sensitize
the public on the issues of unsafe abortion. The Newsletter
is published in two languages - English and Bangia respectively.
The publication is being funded by SIDA.
- Training
- BAPSA frequently
organizes basic or refresher's training on Menstrual Regulation
(for FWVs).
- Management
of Septic Abortion (for Doctors/FWVs/Nurses/SACMOs).
- Health and
nutrition.
- Adolescent
reproductive health.
Besides, BAPSA
also organizes periodical staff training for its own staff.
Behaviour
Change Communication Activities
Communication
for behaviour change is carried out through:
- Orientation
with FP and health worker in order to create awareness on
prevention of unsafe abortion;
- Meeting
with community leader at the union level to create awareness
on unsafe abortion at the grassroots level;
- Counseling
reproductive health clients before and after receiving M.R.,
D&C, and FP services;
- Counseling
pregnant mothers;
- Group meetings
with reproductive health client at the field and clinic
levels;
- Group meetings
with the adolescents on Family Life Education at the field
and clinic level; and
- Meeting
with the young couple to educate them on the benefit of
birth control.
Observance
of World Population and AIDS Day
Major Research/evaluations
activities carried out by BAPSA:
- 'A Study
on M.R. Providers in Bangladesh' (1984).
- 'Evaluation
of M.R. Services and Training Programs' (December 23,1985).
- 'Evaluation
of Menstrual Regulation Services in Bangladesh' (May 20,1987).
- 'Intervention
Necessary for Preventing Rejection of M.R. Clients' (February
1990).
- 'Hospital-based
Descriptive Study of Illegally Induced Abortion-Related
Mortality and Morbidity and Its Costs on Health Services'
(July 16,1991).
- Reports
on 'Facilitation of the Distribution of M.R. Equipment'
in
the country, (March 20, 1992).
- 'Proceedings
of the International Symposium on RU-486' (June 30,1992).
- 'Prospects
of Menstrual Regulation Services in Bangladesh' (March 16.1993).
- 'Utilization
of Health Care Services in Dhaka City' (August 1994).
- 'Septic
Abortion: Results from an Anthropological Study' (Mar. 97).
- 'Estimating
the level of Abortion in the Philippines and Bangladesh'
(a collaborative study with Alan Guttmacher Institute, 1997).
Collaboration
BAPSA is maintaining close collaboration with the following
agencies:
Directorate of Family Planning, Directorate of Health, Directorate
of Nursing Services and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
M.R. Coordination Committee of Bangladesh.
Various NGOs working in the field of reproductive health.
Dhaka City Corporation for providing Primary Health Care Services.
National Technical Advisory Committee of M.R. Services.
FACILITIES
For providing
training and hoping mini-Conference, BAPSA has well-equipped
training venue with modern Audio-visual System. Library space
is also available with reproductive health related materials
and information. Besides, essential diagnostic facilities
are available for serving the clients attending BAPSA clinics.
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