Advocacy Meeting in Bhola: Key Stakeholders Praise Shushilan SBC Project’s Health Initiatives

An advocacy and coordination meeting was held in Bhola to enhance Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (MNCAH) services, Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) coverage, and overall healthcare delivery. Organized under Shushilan’s Social and Behavior Change (SBC) project, the event took place on Thursday at 10:00 AM in the Civil Surgeon Conference Room.

The core objective of the meeting was to present field-level community feedback, grievances, and progress directly to government authorities and key stakeholders to drive service quality improvements.

Md. Sajib Rahman, Project Coordinator (Bhola Project) for Shushilan, moderated the event and delivered a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation highlighting the project’s major accomplishments, achievements, field strategies, Community feedbacks and future initiatives and plannings.

Dr. Mohammad Monirul Islam, Civil Surgeon of Bhola, attended as the Chief Guest, while Md. Moniruzzaman, Deputy Director of the Department of Family Planning, was present as the Special Guest.

Field representatives and local stakeholders noted that community campaigns have significantly dispelled longstanding superstitions, encouraging pregnant women to regularly visit health centers for Antenatal Care (ANC) and Postnatal Care (PNC).

The meeting was attended by key dignitaries, including Dr. Mohammad Moniruzzaman Ahmed (UH&FPO, Bhola Sadar), Dr. Rakin Al Islam (MNCAH Officer, UNICEF), Dr. Arafatur Rahman (RMO, Sadar Hospital), Md. Jamal Uddin (Upazila Family Planning Officer), Dr. Mehedi Hasan (Medical Officer, MCH-EPI), and Dr. Ibrahim Manji (SRHR Officer, UNFPA). District EPI Superintendents, Union Health Inspectors, community leaders, women and youth representatives, and Shushilan field staff were also present.

Addressing the assembly, Chief Guest Dr. Mohammad Monirul Islam stated, "Shushilan’s SBC project in Bhola District has played a commendable role in driving social and behavioral change at the grassroots level. Their initiatives have noticeably improved maternal and child health, immunization rates, and healthcare utilization. The establishment of the crucial engagement of Adolescent peer leaders to safeguard youth health is particularly praiseworthy, and we look forward to the continuation of these vital efforts."

The meeting concluded with a renewed multi-stakeholder commitment to ensuring accessible, high-quality healthcare across coastal communities in Bhola. Concurrently, outreach will focus on eliminating social stigmas through expanded awareness campaigns and scaled-up school Peer Leader Sessions, while stronger inter-agency collaboration with local Union Parishads will accelerate birth registration processes.