Project Period: April 2018 to March 2019.

Budget : BDT 2,531,603.00

Background Information:

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) implementing a project title “Family Planning in Bangladesh – Improving Quality & Access” under the coordination of in collaboration with the Directorate of Family Planning and Health, the Ministry of Health and Family Planning of The People’s Republic of Bangladesh with the financial support of UKAid and Technical assistance of Ipas Bangladesh. Initially the title of the project “Capacity Building on Long Acting Reversible Contraceptive (LARC), but over a period of time it turned to “Family Planning in Bangladesh – Improving Quality & Access”. It is a five years project (started from November 2016 and will continue up to October 2021) with a view to cultivating an environment that supports women in accessing a full range of family planning services. Under this project, it is proposed to increase the availability of high-quality contraceptive services; educate and empower women to access the reproductive health care to which they are entitled; and advocate at the local & national level for improved reproductive health services. Through implementation of this project, Ipas Bangladesh will focus comprehensive interventions in Sylhet, Chittagong, Barisal and Dhaka, where unmet contraceptive need is greatest, with more targeted interventions in Rangpur and Rajshahi. Special attention will be paid to increasing contraceptive provision for post abortion and postpartum clients, as well as increasing the availability of long-acting and permanent methods. Additionally, the project will emphasize reaching un-served and underserved populations, particularly adolescents and newly married women.

The participating Community Radio Stations are Radio Padma 99.2 in Rajshahi, Radio Lokobetar 99.2 in Borguna, Radio Pollikantho 99.2 in Moulvibazar, Radio Mahananda 98.8 in Chawpainawbganj, Radio Chilmari 99.2 in Kurigram, Radio Naf 99.2 in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar, Radio Borendro 99.2 in Naogaon, Radio Meghna 99.2 in Bhola and Radio Sarabela 98.8 in Gaibandha.

 

Overall Goal:

Improve and increase awareness of community people for increasing uptake of quality Family Planning (FP) services by the women & men including adolescent and newlywed couples.

Project Objectives:

• To increase and improve knowledge of community women and men including adolescent and young adults on FP methods, Menstruation Regulations (MR) & Post Abortion Care (PAC) through community radio programs.
• To provide accurate information to the general public, combating myths and misconceptions about modern contraceptive and long-acting methods, Menstruation Regulations (MR) & Post Abortion Care (PAC) and promoting Post-Partum Family Planning (PPFP) services available in local facilities.
• To build the capacity of Community Radio Station Managers, Program Producers, Broadcasters and local level government personnel, in their ability to communicate and facilitate shame free medically accurate information on FP methods, Menstruation Regulations (MR) & Post Abortion Care (PAC) with local communities through radio programs and community listener’s group members.

Role of BNNRC:

• To help/assist and capacity building of community radio stations (CRSs) on program planning, designing and broadcasting of community driven quality family planning programs.
• To supplement/complement for achieving desire goal of the project.

Activities:

• Half day Project orientation at Community Radio Station level with SM, PP, Broadcasters, Volunteers & Local Journalist (Total 10 Participants).
• Listener’s group meeting/Courtyard meeting with eligible couple: 25 Part. (Total 11 meetings)
• Production of Radio Magazine Program and Broadcast (One time).
• Radio Talk Show (Live) with Phone in program (Q & A) and Broadcast (08 Programs in a year).
• Re-broadcasting of Talk show program (24 times in one year i.e. 02 times in a month).
• 1st time re-broadcasting of total programs (Magazine 02 times & Talk Show 02 times) in one year.
• 2nd time re-broadcasting of total programs (Magazine times 02 & Talk Show 02 times) in one year.
• Production of 08 PSA (Public Service Announcement) and Broadcast Per day 2 times x 300 days
• Fellowship for Journalist on local Family Planning situation, program news collection and preparing & publishing Features in Newspapers (Publish at least one feature in a quarter).

Expected Result of the project:

• Know better the different methods of family planning and get accurate information from service centers.
• Listeners will be more aware and conscious about modern contraceptive methods especially long-acting Family Planning methods, MR & PAC services available in local facilities that will reduce the social stigma.
• Inspired to adopt long-acting Family Planning (FP) methods as of their choice for reducing mother and child mortality rates.

Ipas Bangladesh, patronized by Directorate of Health Services, Directorate of Family Planning, Directorate of Nursing and Midwifery under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has been implementing the project titled “Improving Access to Quality Family Planning (QFP) in Bangladesh” in collaboration with Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) since October 2015.

Development Partner: UKaid DFID – Department for International Development through Ipas Bangladesh.

Project Partners:

Community Radio Lokobetar (Barguna), Radio Naf (Cox’s Bazar), Radio Meghna (Bhola), Radio Pollikontha (Moulovibazaar), Radio Padma (Rajshahi), Radio Mohananda (Chapainawabgonj), Radio Borendra (Naogaon), Radio Chilmari (Kurigram) and Radio Sarabela (Gaibandha).

Social Media Url:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/QFPBD/