The world is moving fast with technological innovations. Bangladesh is not far behind. In this respect current e-Sangjog has added a new dimension. Its importance is unlimited for serving information to the target audience about social development, education and modern health service etc. In modern communication techniques, BCCP has put emphasis on ICT to make its programs more dynamic. This means that the use of ICT is gradually spreading in the planning and implementation of the public health and social development programs. Besides social media is also used in many of its programs.
We believe that e-version of Sangjog has enriched our ICT on the way to digitization of Bangladesh. It is expected that our readers can view and read e-sangjog easily.
Best wishes for everyone.
A dissemination workshop on the findings of the BCCM related Base-Line Survey conducted by an independent research organization “Org.-Quest Research Limited” under the supervision of BCCP was held Dhaka on April 23, 2016. The purpose of the study was to assess the existing knowledge and practices regarding a variety of key health related behavior and urban clinic services as well as brand recognition and promotional activities of Rongdhonu clinics of UPHCSDP.
In the dissemination workshop, about 75 participants including concerned officials from PMU, LGD, four PIUs of Dhaka North & Dhaka South City Corporations, Gazipur City Corporation and Narayanganj City Corporation; all the Project Managers of 25 PA Units, representatives of the consulting firms working with UPHCSDP and representatives of the concerned donor agencies attended. Org.-Quest made the presentation on the findings of the BCCM related Base Line Survey.
Ms. Zuena Aziz, Director General (MIE), LGD, MoLGRD&C graced the workshop as the chief guest. Mr. Dhiraj Kumar Nath, Staff Consultant (Urban Health), BRM, ADB and Dr. Rafiqus Sultan, Project Technical Officer, UNFPA were present as special guests in the workshop. Mr. Md. Abu Bakr Siddique, Project Director, UPHCSDP chaired the workshop.
Ms. Sonia Islam, Marketing Specialist, BCCM component delivered the welcome speech and Ms. Yasmin Khan, Team Leader, BCCM component updated the overall activities of BCCM component by a short PowerPoint presentation. Dr. Kapil Ahmed, Deputy Director (Research & Evaluation) of BCCP responded to the questions asked by the officials and participants present and summarized the salient features of the presentation and discussions. The dissemination workshop concluded with the chairperson’s speech.
For promoting the services of Rongdhonu clinics of UPHCSDP by engaging local leaders, a one-day Consultative Meeting titled Engaging Local Leaders in Promoting Urban Health was held on April 21, 2016 in the Conference Room of Khulna City Corporation. The purpose of the consultative meeting was to engage the local leaders in promoting the urban health services of the Rongdhonu clinics among the potential clients by identifying the roles and responsibilities of the Ward Counselors. About 75 participants including Ward Counsellors of Khulna City Corporation and other stakeholders were present in the Consultative Meeting.
Mr. Md. Abu Bakr Siddique, Project Director, UPHCSDP was present as chief guest. Mr. Gokul Krishna Ghosh, Chief Executive Officer, Khulna City Corporation and Dr. Abul Khair Md. Abdullah, Chief Health Officer, Khulna City Corporation; Mr. Guru Prosad Ghosh, Deputy Director (Family Planning), Khulna; Advocate Sk. Zahangir Hossain Helal, Chairman, Health Standing Committee of Khulna City Corporation; Representative of Civil Surgeon Office, Khulna; and Ms. Ruma Khatun, Panel Mayor -03 of Khulna City Corporation and Mr. Sk. Hafizur Rahman Hafiz, Panel Mayor- 02 of Khulna City Corporation were present as special guests in the Consultative Meeting. Mr. Md. Anisur Rahman Biswas, Honourable Acting Mayor, Khulna City Corporation chaired the meeting.
Dr. Swapan Kumar Halder, Program Officer, PIU, Khulna City Corporation delivered the welcome speech and Ms. Kanta Devi, Communication Specialist, BCCM component shared the objectives of the Consultative Meeting and facilitated discussions. Mr. Molla Showkat Hossain, Project Manager, KMSS, PA-01 and Mr. Md. Abdur Razzaque, Project Manager, KMSS, PA-02, Khulna made a short PowerPoint presentation on the services delivered through the Rainbow marked service centers known as CRHCC and PHCC. There was Open Discussion on the roles & responsibilities of Ward Councillors and other Stakeholders in Promoting Urban Health. The participants actively participated in the Open Discussion and raised questions related to UPHCSDP services.
The Chief Guest and the Special Guests delivered their speech after the open discussion and answered each and every question asked by the participants. The Consultative Meeting concluded with the chairperson’s speech.
Bangladesh Knowledge Management Initiative (BKMI) project participated in a three day long Inter-country Conference “Measurement and Accountability for Health” organized by the MIS unit of DGHS under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh. The Conference held from 26th to 28th April 2016 at a hotel of the Dhaka city.
In that Conference health related data collection and reporting requirements for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed. Different organizations showcased their digital resources through booths in the Conference. There BKMI had a booth to share its digital resources namely Field Worker(FW) eLearning course and eToolkit, Program Manager and Planners (PM) eLearning course and eToolkit, and digital archives of government units (Bureau of Health Education, Institute of Public Health Nutrition and Information, Education and Motivation unit).
The eToolkit for field workers is a digital library of print and electronic material on health, family planning and nutrition. It is designed to be used by field workers as a resource when counseling their clients. Field workers eLearning course contains eight modules and is available in Bangla. This course can help to develop the professional skills and knowledge of field workers who counsel at the household, community and clinic level on Health, Family Planning and Nutrition.
The eTooklit for Program Managers and Planners compiles guidelines, curriculum, job aids, case studies, and other tools to plan, manage, deliver, evaluate and support SBCC. PM eLearning course is useful for professionals interested in enhancing their skills in Health, Population & Nutrition (HPN) Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC).There are two courses available- Message and Material Development (MMD) and Introduction to Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) for SBCC. These courses are free of charge. To strengthen institutional memory and facilitate coordination, BKMI assisted BHE, IEM and IPHN units to create digital archives. The digital archives allow all stakeholders to have quick, online access to the SBCC materials that have been developed by the three units.
The three -daylong event had technical sessions, round tables, Q & A sessions and plenary sessions. On the third day, guests were taken on field trips highlighting work which is being done in Bangladesh for improving health information systems. The Conference has been attended by different government and non government organizations from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Combodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines and South Africa.
The Conference is being supported by USAID, WHO, GIZ and the Asia eHealth Information Network (AeHIN) as well as many Development partners.
The World No tobacco Day was observed throughout Bangladesh on May 31, 2016. In order to observe the day in a befitting manner, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organized a colorful rally in Dhaka. Along with other organizations, Bangladesh Tobacco Control Research Network (BTCRN) which was formed under the auspicious of JHSPH-BCCP Tobacco Control Project attended the rally. The members of BTCRN and other tobacco control activists joined the rally. After the rally, the Ministry also organized a symposium at the Osmani Memorial Hall, Dhaka.
BCCP arranged a stall at the lobby of the Osmani Memorial Hall along with other organizations. It displayed tobacco control activities there. The Minister, State Minister, Secretary, and other high officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare visited the stall while they were briefed about BCCP's tobacco control activities including the Research Grant Program and BTCRN. The Honorable Health Minister Mr. Mohammad Nasim appreciated BCCP's initiatives for tobacco control.
At the request of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, BCCP provided technical assistance in developing and distributing the World No Tobacco Day 2016 poster. The poster has been developed following the WHO worldwide theme “Get Ready for Plain Packaging”. The Civil Surgeon Office of 64 districts and Bloomberg Initiative grantees working at the divisional and district levels used the posters to observe the World No Tobacco Day.
As a part of the e-GP campaign undertaken by BCCP, the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) of the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) of the Ministry of Planning put the e-GP digital billboard on display near the National Press Club. Planning Minister Mr. AHM Mustafa Kamal inaugurated a digital billboard on April 27, 2016. The Honorable Minister informed that the government wants to digitize all its activities. He also added “It is the time of digitization”. The billboard displays the total number of tenders invited and their total estimated value under e-GP system. The figure is updated every month.
Director General of CPTU Md. Faruque Hossain, officials of CPTU, IMED and Ministry of Planning were present in the inauguration. Ms. Khadija Bilkis, Sr. Deputy Director of BCCP and Deputy Team Leader, PPRP II (Second Revised), was also present.
The e-GP digital billboard has been installed to draw attention of the public and other stakeholders including policymakers, which will lead to an increase in awareness and support for the electronic procurement system.