Faruk Magura Correspondent: A district-level stakeholder workshop on health and nutrition was held in Magura under the Resilience, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Improvement (RELI) project implemented by the Social Development Foundation (SDF). The workshop took place on Wednesday, 19 November at 12 PM in the conference room of the Magura Civil Surgeon’s Office, with SDF Regional Director Mohammad Kamal Bashar presiding.
Magura Civil Surgeon Dr. Md. Shamim Kabir attended the event as the chief guest, while Dr. Md. Mohsin Uddin from the 250-bed District Hospital was present as the special guest. The program was also attended by Regional Manager Arun Kumar Mondal (MEL & MIS), various Upazila Health and Family Planning Officers, Medical Officers, officials of the Civil Surgeon’s Office, district-level officers from finance, youth and employment, IT & MIS, community finance, CAs (health and nutrition) from eight clusters, and beneficiary members from different clusters.
In his welcome speech, District Manager Md. Zakir Hossain stated that the RELI project is an initiative of the Financial Institutions Division under the Ministry of Finance, implemented by SDF. Through this project, activities are ongoing to reduce poverty, build capacity through training, create employment, support income-generating activities for the poor and ultra-poor, ensure food security, build sustainable village organizations, provide one-time grants for the underprivileged, develop rural infrastructure, support unemployed youth, improve livelihoods, and provide health and nutrition assistance.
Dr. Kayemun Akter Muna, Regional Manager (Health & Nutrition), presented the progress of SDF’s health and nutrition initiatives in Magura. She reported that free health camps were conducted in 200 village associations, providing primary treatment and consultations to 19,782 individuals, while 215 were referred for advanced treatment.
A total of 12,39,000 BDT in maternity allowances was provided to 1,239 pregnant women, and 13,32,000 BDT was given to 132 mothers at high risk of complications during delivery. Additionally, 32,211 packets each of winter and summer vegetable seeds were distributed. Around 10,88,000 pieces of iron, vitamin, calcium, zinc tablets and oral saline were provided.
Moreover, 34,000 families will each receive 12 bars of hand-washing soap. Dr. Muna requested that hospitals prioritize providing proper treatment to poor and ultra-poor patients referred through SDF.
Chief guest Dr. Md. Shamim Kabir praised SDF’s health and nutrition initiatives, describing the maternity and cesarean allowance programs as humane and timely. He noted that these initiatives would help reduce child malnutrition as well as maternal and child mortality risks. Other guests expressed hope that they would continue to support SDF’s village association members and assured that SDF beneficiaries would receive priority services at upazila and district hospitals.
In his concluding remarks, Regional Director Mohammad Kamal Bashar said that SDF’s activities are making significant contributions to rural empowerment, infrastructure development, employment creation, food security, nutrition awareness, and inclusive financing through planned economic activities. SDF is supporting the government in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and building a poverty-free Bangladesh.
The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks by the chair. The event was moderated and presented by District Officer (MEL & GA) Anup Kumar Mondal.
