Community Mobilisation

Perinatal Care Project (PCP) is a collaborative project of Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS), Women & Children First (WCF) and Centre for International Health and Development (CIHD), ICH, UK, which aims to improve maternal and newborn health in rural areas in Bangladesh. The project is being implemented in 18 Unions from 6 Upazilas of 3 districts (Bogra, Faridpur, Maulvi Bazar) since 2002.

Perinatal Care project (PCP) incorporates both development and research objectives. The research objectives incorporate a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of (two interventions)

a) Strengthen health services (in three districts) to improve timely use of better quality service
b) Mobilization Communities through community groups to address their maternal, newborn and child health challenges;

Health Service Strengthening works to improve Perinatal health service delivery in terms of the availability, accessibility and quality of care at levels within the project areas, and to strengthen referral linkage. One of the ways PCP is working towards its goals is by community mobilization through women’s groups (WG). The PCP Women’s Groups started in 2004. 162 WGs have been established in 9 unions. As part of scaling-up, more 648 women’s groups have formed. Now the total number of women’s Group is 810, in each group average 15 women members so total numbers of women members are appox 12,150. PCP formed the women’s group following the criteria.

• Women who are poor and interested
  
• Women of reproductive age
  
• Adolescent girl and others belonging to 60 age women will be included
  
• In the matter of forming Women Group, emphasis will be given on hardcore or poor
  

Each WG is led by the facilitator and the facilitators are supervised by WG coordinators in each district. The PCP district staff are supervised by district manager in each district.
To conduct group meetings facilitators use community facilitation manual, flip chart and picture cards on antenatal, natal, post natal & perinatal services.