UPHCP started the project in 1998 and all the health care centres were handed over by June 12 this year to partner organisations including NGO's like Marie Stopes Clinic Society (MSCS), Bangladesh Women health Coalition (BWHC) and private sector groups.

The project is being implemented at a cost of Tk 274 crore. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), UNFPA, Nordic Development Fund and the Bangladesh government are providing the funds.

"We have faced many problems in setting up these health centres. The major hurdle was to acquire land. In some areas, local political leaders and ward commissioners had even forced us to stop work," said Md. Sultan Ahmed, executive engineer of UPHCP.

UPHCP officials said two kinds of health centres have been set up under the project -- Comprehensive Reproductive Health Care Centres (CRHCC) and Primary Health Centres (PHC).

"In case of normal diseases like fever and cold, a patient can to go to a PHC. The CRHCC on the other hand is for those seeking surgeries and indoor, outdoor facilities," said Afsana Akther, senior monitoring and evaluation officer of UPHCP.

Already these centres, which deal with child health care, maternal health care, treatment of communicative diseases, general health care and family planning, have seen impressive turn outs of patients.

"We try our best not to send any patient back without treatment and we always try to provide them with the best service," said Dr. Md. Asif Anwar, clinic manager of a CRHCC at Bashbari Road in Mohammadpur.

"We serve round the clock. At least 200 patients come here everyday," he added.

There is also a PHC at Noorjahan Road in the same locality and the facilities and services are almost the same.

"On an average 50 to 60 patients come here daily. Our main objectives are keeping the centre neat and clean and to behaving cordially with patients. That is why many patients who visit us, do not like going to other hospitals or clinics," said Dr. Marlina Roy, a medical officer of the PHC.

Most people who have received treatment at these health centres are very satisfied with the facilities and the care.

"I am pregnant and I come here twice a month for check up. I am very satisfied with the facilities here," said Shamima Sultana of Lalmatia about the PHC at Noorjahan Road.

The aim of the initiative is to provide service in two ways -- health centre-oriented service and satellite session out reach. The satellite session out reach was launched in 2000. Under this project, people with a monthly income of less than Tk 2000 are issued a red coloured card which has a one-year validity. The cardholder gets health services free of cost. Those who earn between Tk 3000 - 4000 every month get green cards for one year and can avail every type of health service on offer at a 20 per cent discount.

"Besides Dhaka, we are providing health care in Chittagong, Rajshahi and Khulna under this project. We are going to expand our project to the remaining two divisions soon," informed Afsana Akther.