The Mother and Newborn Child Health Program was launched in 1999 and continues to operate in Chuadanga and Kushtia, Bangladesh. It aims to improve maternal and child health outcomes in alignment with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) objectives. The program is funded by the organization’s own resources, along with contributions from the Chuadanga Zilla Summit and the Civil Service Office Chuadanga.

The program focuses on improving maternal and child health through awareness, healthcare access, and nutrition. Its primary objectives include:

Pre-Natal Interventions:

1. Awareness Building: Conduct sessions to educate pregnant mothers about prenatal care through community meetings, campaigns, and multimedia tools.
2. Nutritional Advocacy: Encourage the consumption of nutritious food during pregnancy.
3. Regular Health Checkups: Establish clinic linkages for antenatal care.
4. Blood Transfusion Management: Ensure access to safe blood transfusion services for emergency needs.
5. Community Campaigns: Disseminate information on maternal health through leaflets, billboards, banners, and other materials.

Post-Natal Interventions:

1. Breastfeeding Promotion: Emphasize exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life.
2. Childcare Education: Train mothers in newborn care practices.
3. Disease Prevention: Ensure Hepatitis B prevention and routine immunizations through EPI programs.
4. Contraceptive Motivation: Conduct family planning sessions to encourage contraceptive use.
5. Nutritional Care: Advocate for continued nutrition for both mother and child postpartum.

 Outcomes of the program

The program has made significant strides in improving maternal and child health, reducing preventable diseases, and increasing community awareness in the project areas. By linking local resources and healthcare facilities, it fosters a sustainable health support system for the community.