Sangjog

Communication is a process : Main Article

The New Normal and Innovation

The world is facing very complex scenarios to handle the crisis and post-crisis that the pandemic caused by the Covid-19 disease implies. We see signs of uncertainty regarding the future and clear signs that the effects on the economic, social and obviously the effects on human health behavior and existence will be palpable, radical and incomparable with respect to other moments of crisis. It is clear that in the face of this complex scenario the need for change, reframing and transformation is imminent. This type of complex scenario demands various preparation, pre-planning for combatting and adopting the changed situation and also innovation in confronting the changes and challenges of the post Covid-19 new normal situation.
As Covid-19 brought an enormous changes in the human lives and contributed adopting some behavior change like social distancing, wearing mask and washing hand it also impacts in other sphere of life to maintain working from home, distant learning, online education, online shopping and so on. All are trying to adjust with the new situational demand, behavior and practices. People, community and society as a whole is facing a hardship in dealing with these changed situations. Social development activities which are specially implements by the non-government organizations with the support from donor is facing a dramatic transition as it moves with key operational concerns and questions about its ability to stay active, to understand and respond to the impact. Although development organization is a dedicated and committed problem-solver, but it seems that it also needs to step up its efforts adapting the new reality of rapidly changing inter-related problems in which adaptation is not only solution to be resilient with the situation. Innovation, creativity, renovation and adaptation as a whole are the priorities in this sector. In the current time which has further been evolved with the Covid-19 situation, is the concept of innovation appeared with a more prestigious and positive implication.
Innovation in an organization is essentially a process of continuous organizational learning. An organization needs to increase focus on learning and development to support innovation for employees to innovate their way into increasing their ability and of course, it needs to be the right learning and development. The online system built around various communication needs is rapidly moving up the performance turn to replace physical appearances that also increases the amount of targeted work accomplishments. There are now dashboards to track students’ progress and the beginnings of a dynamic adaptive process enabling the system to automatically individualize the learning journey for students. Online shopping reduces time, hassle and cost as well to get foodstuff and commodity supplies at respective door steps.
Innovation has become even more critical and opened the door of opportunity in the non-profit sector to appear as situational advantage of the post pandemic period. This applies in all contexts, whether it is inventing new ways to deliver services, adapting to difficult legislation, creating new partnership models with the private sector, setting new benchmarks for workers’ rights in the digital revolution or rethinking the relationship with technologies and their power. We may now need to create opportunities to reflect and learn from own new experience, find ways to help the organizations learning and employees need the freedom to reflect, collaborate, dialogue and thinking.
The aim of innovations should also focus on solving highly complex problems, and those good practices that benefit the approach of reinventing business in the face of a situation of radical change such as that imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. People, purpose, phases, prototypes, patterns and paths is to try to bring new elements that allow us to recognize the particular situation that the pandemic scenario may present for the reinvention of the business and work.
New responsibilities are falling on the shoulders of business and development sector leaders that needs reflecting its ability to remain responsive and adaptive in the context of current situation. Civil society and community stakeholders also have their contextual role to play. Business and development sector leaders who understand their purpose well adjust the offer of their services and reinvent their business, reinvent the solution with which they serve their clients/beneficiaries. We are passing through the era of fourth industrial revolution that also leads to start practice to think strategically for innovation.

BCCP News

There is no alternatives other than to engage communities with the health care system

- Prof. Dr. Habibe Millat MP

A widespread consensus were ingrained over the discussion took place in the policy dialogue on the ‘Integrating Risk Communication and Community Engagement in the National Health Care System”. This policy dialogue event was held through webinar in the Zoom platform on September 26, 2020. Prof. Dr. Habibe Millat MP attended this event as Chief Guest while Prof. Dr. Shah Monir Hossain, Chairperson, Public Health Association of Bangladesh and former DG, DGHS chaired the dialogue event. In his opening speech Prof. Dr. Habibe Millat MP emphasized on the community engagement in the health care system and termed this policy as an essential part of the health service delivery system. He also opined to reformation of the health service management and delivery system by integration of risk communication and community engagement as core health care policy and mentioned the promotive and preventive care is equally important as like the curative care. He welcomed BCCP’s effort for this policy dialogue and their subsequent plan to develop a position paper. He offered himself to work for creating attention of the policy makers with this position paper on today’s subject issue. This dialogue and subsequent discussions were attended by senior policy level professionals and local government representatives as panelist, discussant and observer includes;

Prof. Mahmudur Rahman : Consultant, ICDDR,B and former Director, IEDCR
Prof. Dr. Meerjady Sabrina Flora : ADG, Planning & Development, DGHS
Prof. Shameen Yasmeen : Chairperson, Public Health Foundation, Bangladesh
Dr. A J Faisel : Former Country Director, Engenderhealth-Bangladesh
Mr. Helal Uddin : Additional Secretary, Planning Wing, HSD,MoHFW
Adv. Safia Khanam : Chairman, Zilla Parishad, Rangpar
Mr. Quazi A K M Mohiul Islam : Former DG, DGFP
Dr. Muhammod Abdus Sabur : Adjunct Professor, Institute of Health Economics, DU
Dr Taufiq Joarder : Executive Director, Public Health Foundation, Bangladesh
Mr. Abdus Salam Khan : Joint Secretary, Planning Wing, ME & FWD, MoHFW
Mr. Md. Anisur Rahman : Chairman, Upazila Parishad, Taraganj, Rangpur
Mr. Ruhul Amin Talukdar : Addl. Secretary on lien and Team Lead, NIPN, HKI
In addition to the policy level professionals 58 professionals of different level from the health, population and nutrition field also attended this policy dialogue. They made few questions to the panelist, discussant and to the observers and also had few of their recommendations on the subject issue.
The policy dialogue event was initiated followed by a keynote presentation made by Dr. Zeenat Sultana, Program Director, BCCP. The following discussions of the panelist, discussant and the observers were rotated with the issues pointed out in the keynote paper. The key recommendations of this policy dialogue were as below:
- Integration of risk communication and community engagement as core health care policy to include in the health education, in-service training and on-the-job training of entire health care professionals and workers - The health issues like; one health, SDG and UHC is entirely depending on the awareness of the risky health behaviors by engaging community on the model health behavior and practice - A position paper has to be developed on the subject issue and on the recommendations made in this policy dialogue to get advocated at the appropriate policy points for integration in the health care system - Community involvement on avoiding the risky health behavior can be done through front line health workers and community clinic health trust members - Community people need to get health message and information for model health behavior and practice at their household level - Preventive measures of the health service delivery are sustainable and cost effective rather than putting over emphasis on the curative service delivery - Need based transformation of the medical education curriculum with the inclusion of risk communication and community engagement - Both CDC and NCDC requires providing household knowledge to undertake preventive measures by individual, family and bring up as a model community health practice - Our current service delivery oriented health system requires getting changed with people oriented health care system - The position paper as would have made on this policy dialogue has to be reached out to the entire policy level points with necessary advocacy and follow-on activities has to be undertaken.
At the end Mr. Mohammad Shahjahan, Director and CEO thanked the panelist, discussant and observer as well as other participants for their active participation, discussion and recommendations.
In his concluding remarks Prof. Dr. Shah Monir Hossain, the Chairperson of the event, termed this occasion as a successful one and expressed his satisfaction over the discussions and the recommendations which could bring a good result with appropriate pursuance and advocacy effort.

Shahidul wants to go to school

Shahidul wants to go to school

Shahidul Islam, an orphan, wants to leave the Shutki colony and go to school. However, Shahidul’s mother Safia Akther does not know how to pay for his education. Shahidul Islam (11) is the son of late Shafiqur Rahman and Safia Akhter at ward no 1 of Cox’s Bazar municipality.
He is a student of Darul Qutub Academy. After the death of his father, he went to Shutki shop to work with his mother, leaving him uncertain about his studies and schooling.
Shahidul used to work in the gaps of the school when he got a job in Nazirartek Shutki shop. He could continue his studies as well. But after the death of his father, Shahidul the 4th child among 5 brothers and sisters, had to pull the strings of the family with his mother. This stopped Shahidul from going to school. Shahidul’s mother Shafia Akhter told the reporter that when Shahidul’s Father Shafiqur Rahman was alive, their family was good with five sons and daughters. At the time Shahidul earn some money by working in the Shutki shop near the school. But after the death of her husband, Shahidul had to leave school to join her. Now it is a long corona lockdown and in the current monsoon, neither of them had any job.
She wants to send Shahidul back to school on the advice of some journalist and NGO workers and Shahidul also agreed to go to school.
But she doesn’t know how to cover the cost of Shahidul’s education with the expenses of her family. Although 36 sectors of the country are identified as risky for children’s health. Nazirartek Shutki colony isn’t included there. According to the sources, in Nazirartek Shutki colony 13,524 child laborer’s work in the thousands of Shutki shops at extreme health risks. These children are deprived of education on the one hand and are at serious health risk on the other. According to the data of 2010, the number of child laborers in these Shutki shops was 14,382. It has now become 13,524.
Winrock International’s Climb project in the collaboration with the U/S Bureau of Labor Statistics, is working to eliminate child labor in the processing of dried fish in Bangladesh and to the develop appropriate work environment.
The BCCP is also working as a communication partner to make non-governmental organizations more active and contribute to the government’s ongoing efforts to reduce child labor. Orphan Shahidul wants cooperation to fulfill his dream.
(Source: The News Today, September 13, 2020, Photo by: BCCP)

Mentoring Workshop on Data Management

Mentoring Workshop on Data Management, Analysis and Report Wiring Held

The 2nd mentoring workshop on Data Management, Analysis and Report Writing the Tobacco Control Policy Research Grant Program of BCCP was held in Dhaka under during September 16-17, 2020. The research grantees and their Data Analysts attended the workshop.
The two-day workshop discussed about data management, analysis and report writing. In the workshop, the grantees learned how to process, clean, check, manage, analyze, and present their collected data/information. How to write the research report, present and disseminate the research findings, and write a manuscript for journal publication were also discussed in the workshop. BCCP research team made several PowerPoint presentations and facilitated the discussions on the topics. The grantees, especially the senior grantees contributed a lot to the discussion process. Several hands-on exercises on data management and analysis were also done in the workshop.
After the workshop, the participants expressed their satisfaction on the contents and facilitations of the workshop. Eighteen participants attended the workshop.

Sensitize the University about the Aggressive Marketing

Sensitize the University about the Aggressive Marketing of Tobacco Products

BCCP organized the 1st online University-based Lecture Program on July 15, 2020 in collaboration with the Northern University Bangladesh and Bangladesh Tobacco Control Research Network. The purpose of the program is to increase awareness of the students, faculties and administrative staff members of the Northern University Bangladesh on the detrimental effects of tobacco use. In particular, the program was organized to make aware of the relevant persons of the university about the tobacco industry interferences targeting the educational institutions.
Prof. Dr. Anwar Hossain, Vice-Chancellor, Northern University Bangladesh attended the program as the Chief Guest while Prof. Shah Monior Hossain, Former, Director General, Directorate General of Health Services and Senior Advisor, BTCRN attended the program as the Chairperson. Three brief presentations were made following by a question and answer session in the program. The 1st presentation was made by Mr. Aminul Islam Sujon, Program Officer, National Tobacco Control Cell on the Smoking and Tobacco Products (Control) Act 2005 and its Amendment 2013. The second presentation was made by Syed Mahfuzul Huq, National Professional Officer on Smokers have higher risk of severe disease and death from COVID-19. The final presentation was made by Mr. Md. Hasan Shahriar, Head of Programs, PROGGA on Tobacco industry interferences targeting educational institutions. An interactive question and answer session was held in between presentation sessions.
The lecture program was organized through Zoom Cloud Meetings and at the same time the program was live broadcast on Facebook. More than one hundred and seventy persons were invited of which ninety-five persons were attended at the program.
BCCP organized the 2nd Lecture Program on September 15, 2020 in collaboration with the Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS), Bangladesh Tobacco Control Research Network (BTCRN) and Leaders in Tobacco Control Alumni Association. Students, faculties and administrative staff members of the university attended the program online program. Prof. (Dr.) Faridul Alam, Vice Chancellor, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences attended the program as the Chief Guest while Prof. Shah Monior Hossain, Former, Director General, Directorate General of Health Services attended the program as the Chairperson. As like other program, the tobacco control experts from in-country BI partners and grantees facilitated sessions at the program.

Divisional BCC Working Group is an unique forum to share

Divisional BCC Working Group is an unique forum to share on going SBCC activities at Divisional level - Dr. Hasan Shariar Kabir, Divisional Director, Health, Chattogram

With a primary objective to promote the divisional level GO-NGO coordination and brings better program impact through SBCC approaches in the field of Health, Population and Nutrition (HPN), the 5th Divisional BCC Working Group meeting was held at Chattogram on September 28, 2020 on Zoom Platform. A total of 22 participants from Government and NGO those have been working in the Chattogram Division participated in the meeting. Dr. Hassan Shahriar Kabir, Divisional Director-Health was present as Chair in the meeting while Dr. Shafiqul Islam, Assistant Director-Divisional Director Health was present as special guest. The secondary objective of the meeting was to share the existing HPN SBCC program/activities being implemented by the GoB and NGO in the Chattogram division and promote coordination for better synergy in implementing the 4th sector development program and attain better program impact. Among others the District Information Officer, Deputy Director-Family planning, Deputy Civil Surgeon, were present as guest.
In addition to the DGHS and DGFP program officials the meeting had NGO representations from CODEC, BRAC, GHASHFUL, World Vision Bangladesh, Save the Children, MAMATA, UTSA, UNICEF, Shukhi Jibon (Pathfinder International) and Surejer Hashi Network were present in the meeting. Mamata, UTSHA, Surejer Hashi Network, World Vision Bangladesh, UNICEF C4D and USAID-Ujiiban shared their ongoing SBCC activities followed by discussions to find out way of better coordination between GO and NGO programs.
The meeting discussed the issue that City corporation not under control of neither Civil Surgeon nor Deputy Director, Family Planning Office, so it was very much needed to present the representation of City Corporation in the meeting for better coordination and cooperation. The meetingt recommended the Chief/Sr. Health officer of Chottogram City Corporation to be included as member of the BCC Working group through co-opt system. It was also discussed in the meeting to co-opt the Civil Surgeons of other Districts in this group which is difficult as co-opt system in this group. As per GO circular of formation of this committee co-opt system provisioned for only the officials from divisional level.

Dr. Ahsan Shahriar Kabir, Director Health further emphasizes that interpersonal communication (IPC) should be increased among NGO Community to maximizes program outcome. IPC is also important to avoid duplication of work and creates a good relationship with the clients. Dr. Shahriar also underscores that in this pandemic situation we have to maintain proper hygiene to prevent aggravated situation in the coming days. It was also decided in the meeting that HPN coordination committee meeting in District and Upazilas should be continued in regular basis. Civil Surgeon emphasizes the use of mask by all concern in this pandemic situation. He also emphasizes to unite all the stakeholders to combat the present pandemic situation.
In his closing remarks, the chair Dr. Hasan Shahriar Kabir, Director-Health emphasized to organize the Divisional BCC Working Group meeting quarterly on regular basis and requested all the NGOs to participate in the meeting with power point presentation to share their SBCC activities.

The 6th Divisional BCC Working Group meeting was held virtually at Sylhet on 10 September 2020.

“No alternative we have other than maintaining proper hygiene in this pandemic situation” -Dr. Sultana Razia, Director Health, Chattogram Division

The 6th Divisional BCC Working Group meeting was held virtually at Sylhet on 10 September 2020. A total of 20 participants from Government and NGO those have been working in the Sylhet division participated in the meeting. Divisional Directors both from the health and family planning departments participated in the meeting. Dr. Sultana Razia, Divisional Director-Health, Sylhet and Md. Kutub Uddin, Divisional Director-Family Planning, Sylhet was present as Chair and Co-Chair respectively in the meeting. Objective of the meeting was to share the existing HPN SBCC program/activities implemented by the GoB and NGO in the Sylhet division and promote coordination for better synergy in implementing the 4th sector development program to attain better program impact. In addition to the DGHS and DGFP program officials the meeting had NGO representations from the USAID Ujjiban project, Shimantik, Sukhi Jibon, IDEA, Mamata, CNRS, Jhpiego and Shimantik, Shukhi Jiban, Jhpiego, CNRS, IDEA, Mamata and USAID Ujjiban project also presented their ongoing SBCC activities. Considering the present pandemic situation, it was emphasized in the meeting to maintain proper hygiene at all point especially at the grassroot level. Director-Health said in this regards NGO should play a vital role and requested them to demonstrate their proactive role. Divisional Director-Family Planning inquired Shukhi Jibon project about the status of their Goainghat activities. He also mentioned that all methods of Family Planning can be performed as post-partum family planning methods. Civil Surgeon, Sylhet opined that NGOs have been doing various SBCC activities, he also requested NGOs to continue awareness build up activities. Director Family Planning also reiterated that we have good harmony, coordination, cooperation between health and family planning department in Sylhet division as well as with NGOs and that should be properly utilized by the NGOs. The meeting decided to continue Divisional BCC Working Group meeting quarterly on rotation basis at Divisional Director Health and Family Planning office. Next meeting will be held on 1st or 2nd week of January 2021. Director, Family planning very much optimistic to organize the next meeting in person maintaining proper safety in the conference room of his office.
In the closing remarks, the Chairperson Dr. Sultana Razia, Divisional Director- Health, Sylhet division opined that she experienced by visiting field that 80% people are not wearing mask. In this regard she requested NGOs to work extensively and effectively. She also requested to keep a hand washing corner at the grassroot level like UHC & UH&FWC. She included and welcomed USAID funded Jhpiego as new member of the Divisional BCC Working Group. Co-Chair Mr. Md. Kutub Uddin, Divisional Director-Family Planning said COVID-19 has slowdown our normal filed level activities and that should resume speedily by proper planning, maintaining good coordination and avoiding duplication. He requested GO and NGOs to achieve satisfactory performance in the next three months. He thanks everyone to actively participate in the meeting and took part in the discussion.

HPN Units finds capacity strengthening plan

HPN Units finds capacity strengthening plan development process becomes an effective tool for SBCC activity planning

The Health, Population and Nutrition units of the MoHFW went through the process of developing capacity strengthening (CS) plan for 2020-2021. This plan has been developed through a day-long virtual workshop held on August 31, 2020. A total of 23 participants of PM and DPM level represent these 3 units from the IEM, BHE and NNS participated the workshop. Mr. M A Aziz, Chief, Health Education Bureau spoke over the opening session of the workshop and remarked that this workshop, as like the previous year, will help HPN Units to better planning and implementation of SBCC activities. This CS plan development workshop was founded on the unit level exercising of the Capacity Assessment Tool (CAT) to find out unit’s SBCC Capacity includes; situation analysis, communication strategy, material development, implementation, management, leadership and monitoring & evaluation. The CAT exercise also finds the Knowledge Management includes; process, culture, monitoring, evaluation and re-planning.
At the first part of the workshop units presented their respective CAT assessment findings. These findings showed that none of the units have a decreased level of capacity in any of the components of SBCC capacity and knowledge management domain, however, there was minimum to moderate level of increase in almost all these components. It is also notable that there is a constant increase in almost all these components in consecutive three years from 2018, 2019 and in 2020.
The second part of the workshop was unit wise group work on the development of the capacity strengthening plan for 2020-2021. In the CS plan units identified SBCC activities based on their CAT assessment findings which are mostly included in their Operation Plan (OP) while some of these activities were also newly proposed. Significant new activity by units where they required Ujjiban TA were as below:
IEM - Emphasizing online SBCC training courses to cover up the planned courses become overdue during the Covid-19 situation - Develop unit specific SBCC guideline to facilitate other DGFP units in planning and implementation of SBCC activities - Conduct monitoring of the field level orientation of Pre-Marital Counselling guidebook. NNS - Leadership a management training for managers - Orientation workshop for NNS staff on Assessing SBCC capacity & Knowledge Management - Use of frameworks or models to conduct situation analysis. BHE - Training of the entire Senior and Junior Health Education Officers on the Monitoring Apps to enhance their capability to monitor and supervision of SBCC activities - Training of the Health Educators on eToolkit and eLearning courses for enhancing their quality for better counselling of service seekers coming to the district hospitals - Training of the entire Senior and Junior Health Education Officers on Health Education Communication and Counselling.
In the closing session Mr. Mukhlesur Rahman of BHE, Mr. M Amanullah of NNS and Ms. Ishrat Jabeen of IEM made their observations about the workshop and its impact. A common gesture came out from their comments but expressed in different way that this capacity strengthening planning will profusely be helping them to plan and strategic implementation of OP activities and maximize resources including TA support for the SBCC activities. In his closing remarks Dr. Mustafizur Rahman made his comments by saying that “We need to think comprehensively not separately which lead us to reciprocally benefitted with the coordinated HPN initiative in which this workshop outcome will be a contributory factor”.

HPN SBCC program implementation and monitoring

HPN SBCC program implementation and monitoring find its way following up through the comprehensive SBCC strategy

The HPN SBCC program implementation and monitoring has now been further streamlined at the MoHFW level to support and guide the HPN units, NGOs and DPs to plan and implementation of program following the comprehensive SBCC strategy. These progresses were visible when the national committee on HPN SBCC Program Implementation and Monitoring met in its 3rd meeting on September 09, 2020.
Mr. Mostafa Kamal, Additional Secretary, HSD, MoHFW presided over this meeting while Mr. Nitish Chandra Sarker, Additional Secretary, ME & FW, MoHFW were present in this meeting as Co-chair. A total of 32 attendees from the MoHFW directorates, its HPN units, DPs and the NGOs as member of this committee participated this meeting. The Unit Line Directors attended this meeting were; IEM, LHEP, NNS including the Chief, Health Education Bureau. Amongst DPs attended this meeting were; WHO, USAID and UNFPA. The Chief Health Officer, DNCC and in charge CHO, DSCC were also present in this meeting. Unit representation of DGFP and DGHS were from CCSDP, IPHN, NTP, MNCAH and MIS. The meeting was moderated by Ms. Nilufar Nazneen, Joint Secretary, PH, MoHFW.
After approval of the proceedings of last meeting the moderator pointed out for reviewing of the status of implementation and progresses so far been made over the decisions of the last meeting. The key progress/accomplishment with the TA support from USAID-Ujjiban SBCC project as mentioned in the meeting were as below:

- The Annual SBCC monitoring report 2018-2019 has been developed and ready for printing/production with the final approval from the National SBCC Steering Committee. - Cascaded model of Leadership and Coordination curriculum have been developed and submitted for the MoHFW approval. The first ToT have been planned to hold in October 2020. - Guidebook on the activation of District and Upazila level SBCC committees have been developed and submitted for the MoHFW approval. - Submission of “Best Practice” report have been made by 14 GoB units and NGOs. The planned fair has been titled as ‘Safollya Gantha’ and can be organized immediate after the MoHFW level approval. A threadbare discussion took place after these updates and meeting decided to get further progresses over the activity developments. Key decisions made at this point were: - The Annual SBCC monitoring report 2018-2019 will be placed for approval from the National SBCC Steering Committee. - MoHFW comments on the Leadership and Coordination curriculum will be provided within the current month. However, Ujjiban can proceed with its plan for conducting the first ToT in October 2020. - If no comments are provided on the guidebook by this month on activation of District and Upazila level SBCC committees, the respective HPN Line Directors will undertake appropriate measures for production and distribution of the guidebook. - A date for “Best Practice” fair ‘Safollya Gantha’ will be finalized by this month and provided to the units for necessary arrangements and participation where Ujjiban will provide the TA support.

At this point of on-going discussion, the moderator, with the permission of the chair, made a room for open discussion and requested the meeting attendees to participate in it. Following attendees responded to it and made their comments as;
Dr. Mustafizur Rahman The Leadership and Coordination curriculum has been a good addition in the HPN programs. He, however, suggested to include all the HPN units in the ToT. Dr. Ashrafunnesa, LD-IEM Covid-19 is an emerging issue during and after the pandemic situation to get SBCC focus for awareness and community engagements. The IEM unit has developed communication materials and disseminate several messages on the Covid-19 related issues. Dr. Abu Zaher, LD-LHEP Field level training on the eToolkit and eLearning course needs covering of entire front-line HPN workers as it is profusely helping them for their knowledge management and client counselling. He also mentioned that LHEP has brought out different communication materials on Covid-19 related issues. In his concluding remarks the Co-chairperson of the meeting mentioned about the delayed progresses over the Annual SBCC Monitoring Report and the creation of SBCC cell at the PH division. This might happen for the Covid-19 lockdown and recent changes took place in the MoHFW. However, he emphasized on the coordinated effort for better program impact. He thanked Ujjiban for their continuous SBCC TA support to the MoFW and also to the Development Partners for their support as well.

Monitoring Apps will enhance HPN unit’s capacity in real time

Monitoring Apps will enhance HPN unit’s capacity in real time monitoring of SBCC activities - Dr. Mustafizur Rahman, Line Director, National Nutrition Service

A national level ToT on the Monitoring Apps was held on August 12-13, 2020 for the officials of Health, Population and Nutrition units. This 2-day workshop held in Zoom platform were participated by a total of 27 Program Manager, Deputy Program Manager and Desk officials attended from the CBHC, TB Control, BHE and NNS units of DGHS while FSD, CCSDP, MCH and IEM unit of DGFP were participated from the DGFP. The inaugural session of this ToT was attended by Dr. Mustafizur Rahman, Line Director-NNS, Dr. Ashrafunnesa, Line Director-IEM, Dr. Habibur Rahman, Director-MIS, DGHS and Dr. Zeenat Sultana, Acting CoP, Ujjiban-SBCC Project. In his inaugural remarks Dr. Mustafizur Rahman mentioned that the digital version of this apps is a transformation from the analogue version was started developing with the technical assistance from BKMI project and now this version being commissioned by the Ujjiban project for its scaling-up phase. He opined that this monitoring apps will enhance HPN unit’s capacity in real time monitoring of SBCC activities. Dr. Ashrafunnesa also spoke over the occasion and termed this ToT as a very good initiative to hold in the virtual platform that become a great way out in the current Covid-19 situation. She hoped that this monitoring apps will add value to the integrated monitoring of HPN SBCC activities and thanked Ujjiban for their TA support. In his speech Dr. Habibur Rahman mentioned that SBCC appears as a very important intervention for the Health and Family Planning program. At this stage this apps will be a good effort to further strengthening SBCC activities. Dr. Zeenat Sultana mentioned that this ToT have been planned for training of the DGHS and DGFP front line supervisors at the field level.

The workshop went through a good level of participant and facilitators’ interaction had brought it out of the limitations generally observed in the virtual mediums. Participants skill in maintaining and responding through various verbal and non-verbal options were found at a very good level and their performance in responding through google drive in various sessions of the ToT including the pre-test, post-test and evaluations was just met the course requirement. In the closing ceremony some of participant’s remarks were found very significant. Mr. Mukhlesur Rahman, DPM, BHE have termed this apps as a good aide facing field level challenges for effective monitoring. Mr. Ajoy Ratan Barua, PM, MIS, DGFP expected this apps to be effective for field level monitoring of SBCC activities. Dr. Geeta Rani Debi, DPM, CBHC found this apps as a need of time to monitor field level SBCC activities. This closing ceremony was also spoke over by the Director-IEM, Director-MIS, DGHS and Chief-BHE. The Director-IEM expected the participants to become master trainer for the cascaded model of monitoring apps training. Director-MIS, DGHS opined this apps to get synchronized with DHIS-2 system. The Chief-BHE thanked Ujjiban for their support and requested for getting it continued.

BCCWG forum could be a good source to contribute better in the public

BCCWG forum could be a good source to contribute better in the public health field for health and well-being of the people of Bangladesh

- Mr. Md. Mostafa Kamal, Additional Secretary, HSD, MoHFW

The National level BCC Working Group met in their 30th meeting on the September 01, 2020 having Mr. Md. Mostafa Kamal, Additional Secretary, HSD, MoHFW in the Chair and Mr. Nitish Chandra Sarker, Additional Secretary, HE & FW, MoHFW as the Co-chair. The National Nutrition Service (NNS) hosted this meeting held in Zoom platform. Ms. Nilufar Nazneen, Joint Secretary, PH, HSD, MoHFW and Mr. Saiful Islam, Deputy Secretary, PH-2, HSD, MoHFW also joined in this meeting. A total of 42 participants represents IEM, NNS, FSD, MIS-DGFP, CCSDP, BHE, WHO, DPs and NGOs joined this meeting. Among others five Line Directors of the IEM, FP-FSD, LHEP, NNS and the Chief Health Education Bureau had joined in this meeting. In his opening speech Mr. Md. Mostafa Kamal welcomed the participants and told that the BCCWG forum could be a good source to contribute better in the public health field for health and well-being of the people of Bangladesh. At this point of meeting the participants get themselves introduced. The Chairperson then opened the meeting discussions following the agenda of the meeting.
After reading out of the minutes of last BCCWG meeting and a review of the progresses so far been made following the last minutes, the meeting proceeded to the organization wide presentation on the SBCC activities could have been achieved after the last BCCWG meeting. The organization wide presentations were made by Mr. Mukhlesur Rahman, BHE, Ms. Ishrat Jabeen, IEM, Ms. Kanta Devi, Plan International, Mr. Catalin Bercaru, WHO-Bangladesh and Mr. Amanullah, NNS.

Following agenda of the meeting Dr. Zeenat Sultana, Acting CoP, USAID-Ujjiban SBCC Project and Mr. Dipak Kanti Mazumder made a brief presentation over the Annual SBCC Monitoring Report and over the HPN SBCC Coordination Committee Guidebook. In her presentation Dr. Zeenat Sultana mentioned that this Annual SBCC Monitoring Report is being published by the MoHFW from the last year as a compiled report of the HPN units and the NGOs. She also highlighted some salient features of the report. In his presentation Mr. Dipak Kanti Mazumder briefly presented the key features of the HPN SBCC Coordination Committee Guidebook. He mentioned that this guidebook will facilitate the district and upazila level SBCC Coordination Committee get activated and function better. As the last agenda of the meeting Mr. Dipak Kanti Mazumder described about the ToR for the adaptation of new members of BCCWG as have been developed by a sub-committee formed in the last BCCWG meeting and told that the sub-committee accepted the Friendship-Bangladesh as new member of the committee.
At this point the Chairperson suggested the BCCWG member organization that can involve the local government representatives and the UNO of respective upazila for mobilizing local support for any development work including health and family Planning. This involvement will enhance the program efficiency, better community acceptability and community ownership of the program.

On behalf of the host organization of this meeting Dr. Mustafizur Rahman, Line Director-NNS emphasized the need of the activation of SBCC Coordination Committee as a priority activity. He told that concerted effort is very much necessary for interventions requires people’s participation like; health, population and nutrition.
In his speech as Co-chairperson Mr. Nitish Chandra Sarker, Additional Secretary, HE & FW, MoHFW remarked that this forum will profusely contribute to avoid duplication of work and attain a reinforcement of SBCC activities with reciprocal sharing and coordination. He thanked Ujjiban for their continued support for steering up the BCCWG forum to make it further contributory.
Making his remarks as Chairperson of the meeting Mr. Md. Mostafa Kamal, Additional Secretary, HSD, MoHFW further iterated the responsibility of the health and family planning professionals to work for the people and mobilize all of the effort and resources to attain the HPNSP goals when we already spent most of its time span. He expressed his happiness to know few organizations have undertaken Covid-19 as one of their program interventions. He hoped this forum will be continuing their effort to attain best and make their contribution to achieving HPNSP goals.

OSMA application has become a good example

OSMA application has become a good example of capitalizing the advantage of ICT and become a way forward with digital Bangladesh ideology - Md. Mostafa Kamal, Additional Secretary, HSD, MoHFW

In way to appropriately administering and making universal use of Online SBCC Material Approval (OSMA) application, a day-long orientation was organized for the officials of MoHFW and HPN units held on September 28, 2020 at the IEM conference room. The inaugural and concluding sessions of this orientation program were respectively graced by Mr. Md. Mostafa Kamal, Additional Secretary, HSD, MoHFW and Mr. Nitai Chandra Sarker, Additional Secretary, ME & FWD, MoHFW. Ms. Nilifar Nazneen, Joint Secretary, PH, HSD, MoHFW also had attended this orientation program. The MoHFW officials attended this orientation program were both from the health service and the family welfare division. Attending senior officials in this orientation includes; Line Directors of NCDC, MNC&AH, IEM; Directors of PHC, Mass Communication, Bangladesh Betar with the Chief-BHE and the Professor of Mass Communication Department of Dhaka University. HPN unit representation was made from the PHC, MNC&AH, NCDC, CDC, MBDC, NNS, BHE and the IEM.

In his inaugural speech Mr. Md. Mostafa Kamal, Additional Secretary, HSD, MoHFW expressed his happiness by saying that “OSMA application has become a good example of capitalizing the advantage of ICT and become a way forward with digital Bangladesh ideology.” He thanked Ujjiban for their support in this initiative and urged upon them along with other HPN units to follow-up regular use of this application. In her welcome remarks Ms. Nilifar Nazneen, Joint Secretary, PH, HSD, MoHFW hoped that this software application will profusely help MoHFW and units to have expediated production of quality SBCC materials, automated submission, approval and automated archiving of the approved materials. Dr. Zeenat Sultana, Acting CoP, Ujjiban provided a brief overview of the application and particularly mentioned about two objectives of development of this application that a) it will benefit GoB and NGO sector SBCC material development effort by saving resource and time and b) transferring this skill to the MoHFW/HPN units.
The orientation sessions were conducted by Mr. Dipak Kanti Mazumder, SCS, Ujjiban initiated with providing the background information and current use/submission status of the application. He particularly mentioned that an average of 4.2 days has been taken for the material submission up to the approval. The process of using of this application by on-site navigating through the application have also been shown in this session. At this stage of orientation, he requested one of the unit level user to express their experience while Ms. Happyna Tripura, Asstt. Chief, BHE described her use experience of this application and show a hands-on about how uploading of materials could have done. There was a group work at this stage of the orientation to further practicing of application at the individual level and sharing respective experiences with the group members.

At the closing of the orientation Mr. Nitai Chandra Sarker, Additional Secretary, ME & FWD, MoHFW made his remarks by saying that “This application now requires universal use by all HPN units, NGOs and the media agencies for their HPN related SBCC materials submission and approval by the MoHFW. He thanked Ujjiban for their continuous SBCC related TA to the ministry and to the HPN units and urged upon them to address any upcoming issues for smoother use of this application and provide refresher orientation to the users.

Scoop News

World Population Data 2020: Bangladesh Situation
the growing population and risk of epidemics

Every country in the world seeks a higher standard of living for its inhabitants. It is currently the most basic requirements for the people who’re living in impoverishment. An important barrier to the achievement of such living standard is the current rate of population growth. The present world population growth has been showing an increasing trend until the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19 struck and hindered the regular pace of population growth. Amid this unprecedented time, Population Reference Bureau (PRB) has successfully published their World Population Data Sheet 2020 to celebrate this year’s ‘World Population Day’.
As one of the densely populated country’s in the world Bangladesh too has been experiencing the impact of pandemic on their population.
Demographic factors have gained new insights in this year’s population analysis. It displays a snapshot of the demographic trends reshaping our world today and previews what we might expect in the future. Many factors such as population density in urban areas, household size, and population aging contribute to our vulnerability to a pandemic. Population Data Sheet 2020 emphasizes on how excessive urbanization, household size and aging populations could bring a difference in spreading any infectious disease.
Demographic factors have gained new insights in this year’s population analysis. It displays a snapshot of the demographic trends reshaping our world today and previews what we might expect in the future. Many factors such as population density in urban areas, household size, and population aging contribute to our vulnerability to a pandemic.
Population Data Sheet 2020 emphasizes on how excessive urbanization, household size and aging populations could bring a difference in spreading any infectious disease.

According to the Population Data Sheet, twenty-six countries and territories have ≥40% of their populations of 1 million or more living in cities. As a result of the concentration of the people in big cities often leading in high population may experience more difficulties restraining the spread of infectious disease like Covid-19. Furthermore, maintaining social distance and self-quarantine in such urbanized settlement is likely to be more effortful. Urban population in Bangladesh was reported 39.4 % in 2020, according to Worldometer, which nearly resembles the value mentioned in the population data sheet 2020. Moreover, Bangladesh has a population density of 1265 people per square kilometer which might induce the rate of infection.
Average household size usually differs country wise. In light of the population data sheet, Western Africa and Middle Africa holds the largest average household size at 5.1. Large household size and multigenerational living might escalate the spread of disease like Covid-19. Bangladesh’s average household size was reported 4.2 according to a report of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. It is also observed in Bangladesh that people of urban areas are more likely to remain in a nuclear family environment rather than dwelling in a join family atmosphere. Therefore, ensuring hygiene and undertaking necessary health approaches might limit the infection in household settings.

Senior citizens are more likely to be infected by Covid-19. It has been constantly observed that since the beginning of the outbreak the infected rate among old population is significantly much higher than the other age group segment. In accordance with the PRB’s study the portion of the population ages 65+ is 20% or higher in 21 countries and territories. On the basis of the last population Census Bangladesh, percentage of elderly in Bangladesh is 7.7 percent. Besides, Bangladesh has a median age of 27.90 years with less elderly people, which could be an important reason why the young individuals in our country are most infected among all (55% belong to 21-40 years age group). It is also observed that case fatality rate as per August 2020 in Bangladesh is 1.34% which is below the global average of 4.26 % and could be due to the less proportion of elderly people in Bangladesh. From the above observation, It may seem like our country's elderly are out of risk, but as mentioned already most of our family setting practices multigenerational living and if not careful then the disease could possibly devour any individual from random age group segment.

Oldest Areas May Be Hardest Hit: The Importance of Age Structure in Understanding Mortality During the Coronavirus Pandemic
This present condition is connected to population issues because the spread of infection increases exponentially relative to population density. Today, the world has a population of 7.8 billion and Asia is the most populated region, with 4.6 billion inhabitants. South Asia is among the fastest growing regions in the world according to the data sheet where the population growth and fertility rate of Bangladesh in 2020 is respectively 1.1 and 2.3. Although the mortality rate of Covid-19 in Bangladesh till date is one of the world’s lowest (1.3) in comparison with the global context (3.54). But taking the population factors of Bangladesh into account the possibility still remains whether the country could be resilient enough to subsist the coming wave of covid-19 with no globally approved vaccine and substandard health infrastructure of Bangladesh.
Demographic characteristic may vary among region but the challenges and opportunities they experience will have some similarities. The key is to revamp the expanding trend of population and limit the growth to prevent such outbreak. The world is observing significant and unpredictable changes in all aspects of life amid this global pandemic and COVID-19 is forcing our society to change. To make the planet a better place we must view this as an opportunity to rise to the occasion and build a new sustainable society.

International News

International News

Assessing compliance with tobacco packaging and labeling regulations
 

Editorial:

Editorial: Leadership to harnessing innovation

Leaders can assemble their teams for better performance and outcomes. An effective leader acknowledges the importance of the difference in people and their diversified quality and also knows how to connect with them for getting return of it with best outcomes from the team. Every single person is different from each other with their creative mindset, abilities and innovative ideas. A good leader can find all these qualities and make their ideas together to get the best result from them for the benefit of organization. Creativity has always been the heart of any workplace comes from contributions of the individuals. It might be a business or a social development organization, if we try to define the ability to create and bring innovations for any organization it demands good leadership. Creativity can come from any person and it is the leader who can find the creativity from the members in his/her team and get it utilized for betterment of the organization.
Leaders always become committed for the team and nurture an innovation mindset where they apply different ideas to bring out innovativeness that exist amongst the team members for greater interest and success for the organization. Leaders also try to harness their team members to contribute their imagination for their work that can create new ideas for leaders. The main considerations of leadership are to engage and set the right people, to the right place at the right time for applying their innovations to benefit organization provide better services. That engagement starts when the leader harness opportunities for the team member to play their role.
The effective leaders know that innovation may come from any individuals by their respective expertise, angles, interests and fields. But ploughing back the successes for organization requires collaboration and teamwork. A trusted and professional team and their innovations ultimately enables a leader’s innovation that finally contributes to the organizational success. However, collaboration or teamwork is just not working closely together, it is also the mutual trust, respect loyalty and professionalism while leader brings synergy into it. Synergy makes a team stronger, efficient and productive to attain better result. It makes them more effective. When everyone is benefiting from a relationship it becomes healthy and prosperous. That should be the goal of any individual, organization, or team. Synergy is the goal and achieving it is critical to success towards innovation.
Finally, innovation and leadership are closely linked. A leader needs to know how to analyze his/her audience and find key figures, lead employees and develop strategies, set up processes, and use numerous management tools. BCCP believes that leadership is situational, therefore, everyone has the role to attain innovation. As part of it BCCP mentoring the mid-level staff as the next generation of leader with vested confidence on them it upholds the culture of being professional, passionate and trustworthy. Enlightened leaders’ practices accountability, transparency and impartiality that enables followers to be trustworthy and lends their all-out effort to innovate.                               

Surveys on COVID-19

Gender based perception and differentials of COVID-19: Findings from Rapid Survey by BRAC JPGSPH

 

Impact of the monsoon and COVID-19 containment measuresFlash report on Shelter and infrastructure damage in the Rohingya refugee camps

Videos

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