Jhikra health centre gains trust of pregnant mothers

Since its reactivation around four years back, Jhikra Union Health and Family Welfare Center (UH&FWC) has gained the trust and confidence of rural people, particularly pregnant mothers.

Located in Bagmara upazila of the district, the facility is now providing different types of need-based healthcare services, including antenatal care (ANC), postnatal care (PNC), normal delivery and neonatal care, to the grassroots people.

Around 12-kilometre away from Bagmara Upazila Health Complex, it’s mandated to provide healthcare services to around 32,000 people.

Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Rafiqul Islam said the facility has been reactivated through need-based renovation and repairing works of the dilapidated building at a cost of Tk 2,45,555 supported by the Public Health Improvement Initiative Rajshahi (PHIIR) project in June 2018.

He said the facility had remained inoperative for around 15 years since 2003 due to multifarious problems related to lack of manpower, electricity and water supply, life-saving drugs and other requisite support.

On a priority basis, a skilled Family Welfare Visitor (FWV) was appointed with a joint financial contribution of the PHIIR project and UP. Three Community Volunteers (CVs) were also engaged there for conducting necessary work.

UP Chairman Rafiqul Islam said the labour room was equipped with all requisite devices and apparatus, including an Oxygen Cylinder, Trolley for equipment and ANC Checkup bed, on behalf of the project for conducting normal delivery after the deployment of FWV Rezia Parvin.

Keya Begum, 24, wife of Bazlur Rashid of Joandog, is very happy over getting her necessary postnatal care from the facility after her normal delivery in December last.

As her husband remains busy with his almost daylong professional work she goes to the clinic on her own initiative. She terms the facility a vital means for regular medical checkups. After getting her doorstep services she’s mentally satisfied.

DASCOH Foundation has been implementing the PHIIR project supported by the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) at five upazila health complexes, 42 Union Health and Family Welfare Centres and 110 Community Clinics under Bagmara, Charghat and Tanore upazilas in Rajshahi and Porsha and Sapahar in Naogaon.

The project is intended to improve the health status with a special focus on maternal, neonatal and child health at the primary health care level.

PHIIR Project Manager Tozammel Haque said the present government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is determined to run the rural health facility effectively. “So, we are working here to supplement the government endeavour,” he added.

In the surrounding Jhikra UH&FWC communities, the CVs have so far conducted 121 health education sessions with the participation of more than 2,588 people through using flipcharts.

They are also seen visiting the houses of pregnant mothers for getting ANC, PNC and Neonatal checkups and referring the risky mothers to better facilities. So far, 22 mothers’ houses have been visited by the respective FWV and staff.

Apart from this, they have conducted school health programs orienting more than 90 students in the adjacent Jhikra High School, Vanchi Para High School and Ronshi Bari High School.