28 September 2020 – The Project on “Providing Safe, Comprehensive and Appropriate Intervention to Prevent Postpartum Hemorrhage for Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Bangladesh” was launched virtually in Dhaka. The project is being implemented by Partners in Population and Development (PPD) in joint collaboration with the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) under the leadership and guidance of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Government of Bangladesh. The Project was funded by the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund (SSCAF) of the Government of the People’s Republic of China. While the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) will be directly engaged in the project implementation with MOHFW and PPD, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the Directorate General of Drug Administration DGDA) will extend crucial assistance to the Project.
Maternal Mortality specifically refers to the mothers dying from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications, which is easily preventable if the appropriate measures are undertaken. One of the indicators of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) No. 3.1 calls for reduction of Maternal Mortality to 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. According to 2017 estimates, 170 mothers per 100,000 live births lost their lives in Bangladesh, albeit still in a better position compared to the neighboring countries. While accomplishing rapid socio-economic developments and internationally recognized as an emerging economic tiger, the Government of Bangladesh is fiercely determined and aggressively pursuing all possible endeavors to improve public health especially reducing the Maternal Mortality from 170 to 70, or even less as enshrined by the SDG 2030 Agenda. Previously Bangladesh Prime Minister received multiple international awards for achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) before SDGs were adopted.
The Project will initially be implemented in six Upazilas of Gazipur and Manikganj Districts, the successful experiences of which will later be spread all over Bangladesh. Subsequently, Bangladesh’s successful experiences and lessons learned will also be replicated in other PPD member states in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The project will offer an extensive exchange of experiences and expertise between Bangladesh and China and an Expert Group has already been constituted from both countries to provide technical oversight to the project implementation. This is a concrete example of South-South Cooperation between two friendly developing countries.
At the end of the brief ceremony, a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on the Project implementation.