Fair for mothers to-be held in Gaibandha

A day-long fair for "mothers-to-be and mothers-in-law" was held on the premises of Sonaroy Union Health and Family Welfare Center under Sundarganj upazila in the district yesterday.

SKS Foundation, an NGO, organised the fair under MAMOTA Project, being implemented in cooperation with Save the Children and with support from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

The theme of the fair was "Say No to Home Delivery, Ensure Institutional Delivery".

A discussion meeting was also held marking the fair. Santa Clara Family Health Plan (SCHFP) medical officer of the upazila Dr Atiqur Rahman addressed the function as chief guest.

Presided over by local UP chairman Syed Badrul Ahsan Selim, the function was also addressed, among others, by an upazila school head teacher Abdul Mannan Akanda, assistant teacher Abu Taher Alam, union parishad member Farida Parvin, district coordinator of the project Umme Kulsum Illa, and upazila coordinator of the project Farzana Sultana.

The speakers in their speeches emphasised institutional delivery in lieu of home delivery to check child and mortality rates in the country in a bid to achieve the sustainable development goals by 2031.

They also urged the staff of the health and family planning department, and the project, to conduct awareness activities among the pregnant women, their mothers-in-law and guardians, so that the delivery activity was done institutionally.