News

Dissemination of Digital Resources to Strengthen SBCC in Bangladesh held

An event to disseminate a set of Digital Resources to strengthen Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) in Bangladesh was held on 19 January 2016 at CIRDAP Auditorium, Dhaka. The Chief Guest, Prof. Dr. Deen Mohammad Noorul Huq, Director General, Directorate of Health Services, along with other guests on the dais, formally launched the Digital Resources by pressing a computer button. The Chief Guest urged all stakeholders to utilize these ICT-based tools to improve the coordination, harmonization and quality of SBCC activities.

The digital resources include  an SBCC eToolkit for Field Workers working on Health, Population and Nutrition (http://www.k4health.org/bangladesh-toolkits); an SBCC eToolkit for Program Managers and Planners (https://www.k4health.org/toolkits/bangladesh-program-managers); an eLearning course in Bangla with eight modules for field workers (http://bdsbcc.org); two eLearning courses, both available in Bangla and English, for SBCC program managers and planners (http://bdsbcc.org); and Digital Archives for three government units (Bureau of Health Education (BHE): http://bhe.dghs.gov.bd/digitalarchive/; Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN): http://archive.dghs.gov.bd/iphn_digitalarchive/; Information, Education, Motivation: http://www.dgfpbd.org/digitalarchive/). All are available online, free of charge. The eToolkit for Field Workers is also available offline and as an Android app (BD HPN Toolkit)

With technical support from BKMI, the three communication Units of MoHFW, BHE, IPHN and IEM Unit have developed these resources to strengthen Health, Population and Nutrition SBCC in Bangladesh. Some of these digital resources are the first of their kind, not only in Bangladesh, but also in the region.

Ms. Roxana Quader, Additional Secretary (PH & WH), MoHFW, in her welcome speech, said that the resources were a step forward towards achieving the vision for a Digital Bangladesh.

The Chair of the event Mr. Mohammad Wahid Hossain, Director General, DGFP emphasized the importance of using modern information and communication technologies along with the traditional ones.

Prof. Dr. Abul Kalam Azad, Additional Director (Admin) and Line Director of MIS, DGHS, commented that these ICT-based tools were developed with a great precision and would facilitate the wellbeing and improved health of the people in Bangladesh. Ms Marietou Satin, Acting Director, USAID Dhaka Mission emphasized USAID’s commitment to working closely with MoHFW, and noted that the digital resources for SBCC will help to strengthen the health system in Bangladesh.

A short video documentary on these resources was screened in the program.

Around 135 professionals from different ministries, departments and institutions, A2i, NGOs, INGOs, development partners, academics, and others attended the event.

BKMI, funded by USAID, is a technical assistance project jointly implemented by Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP), Baltimore, USA and Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs (BCCP).