Engaging Local Government to promote Maternal and Newborn Health in Bangladesh

In rural Bangladesh, local government institutions (LGIs), especially upazila parishads (sub-district level LGI), play a key role providing essential services for community development. They help connect people with primary healthcare, along with providing nutrition and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services that reduce the burden of poverty. However, most upazila parishad officials are not engaged in the promotion of maternal and newborn health (MNH) services in rural areas. Lack of information about their mandated role and responsibilities prevents them from providing MNH services for poor and marginalized communities. Even if they are informed, without the necessary skills to fulfil their role and responsibilities local government officials are struggling to promote quality MNH services within the public facilities in rural areas. To address this problem, Strengthening the Maternal and Neonatal Health System in Rangpur, Bangladesh project (Jononi) organized advocacy meeting with 13 upazila parishad in Rangpur and Lalmonirhat district in 2023 for increasing their engagement on MNH services through inform and participation about the MNH situation at the rural areas and enhance the contribution of upazila parishad to promote the services for rural communities.