Pushti Apa making a difference in safe pregnancy

Aklima Begum, 22, wife of farmer Mohor Ali of remote char 'Karai Barisal' in Chilmari upazila of Kurigram, gave birth to her first child four years ago suffering from various complications.

Both Aklima and her child suffered from malnutrition. She is now pregnant with the second child. But this time, Nutrition Sales Agent (NSA), the community nutrition promoter, who is affectionately called 'Pushti Apa' regularly measures her blood pressure, weight and advises her to eat nutritious food. Pushti Apa is also giving necessary medicines at market price.

Now, Aklima and her unborn child are healthy and she is hoping to give birth to a healthy child.

Deljan Begum, 26, a mother of three children from the Char Patrakhata area, said she had become the mother of two children before Pushti Apa started working in the char.

A child was born with physical disabilities. However, with the care and attention of Pushti Apa, she gave birth to her third child in November last year. She and her child were healthy and they still are doing fine.

"We don't have to pay for measuring blood pressure and weight but if necessary, we get vitamin and mineral tablets from Pushti Apa at market price," she said adding, that "Women in char are now able to give birth to healthy children thanks to Pushti Apa."

Since September 2018, a total of 18 women have been working as Nutrition Sales Agent in 30 remote chars in Chilmari upazila of Kurigram, under a project titled 'Sustainable Opportunity for Nutrition Governance (SONGO)' funded by the European Union and the project is being implemented jointly by RDRS Bangladesh and ICCO Co-operation Part of Cord Aid.

All of the NSAs have undergone month-long training on nutrition, pregnancy and care of neonatal.

Rokeya Begum, an NSA, said now the pregnant women of char areas are very conscious about nutrition.

"If a pregnant woman suffers from complications, she is taken to a local community clinic or a hospital in the mainland. Not only the pregnant women, all the people of char affectionately call us Pushti Apa," she said.

Afroza Begum, another NSA, said they earn a small amount selling vitamin and mineral pills at market price to the pregnant women in Char areas and receive a small honorarium from the NGO. Char women do not have to pay for measuring blood pressure and weight.

"We are trying to keep the mothers and children of char areas healthy. The women of char areas are coming out of the prejudices," she added.

Ahsanul Kabir Bulu, Chilmari upazila coordinator of the SONGO project, said each Pushti Apa provides services to pregnant women and children living in remote chars of the Brahmaputra river.

The women of char areas are giving birth to healthy children as the NSAs are working diligently from house to house, he said adding that at least 1200 mothers and children received services in the last three years.

Chilmari Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Aminul Islam said due to the development of awareness on nutrition, the infant and maternal mortality rate is declining and the risk of children being born with disabilities has reduced in the char areas. The pregnant women's healthcare in the char area is being ensured because of the service of the NSAs working in char areas.