“It is really an opportunity for me for being selected as one of trainee of this important training program; it enhanced my knowledge, created my image & prestige in my community and now feeling very self-possessed”

_____ Jakia Ivin

Graduated as CHW

BWHC provided six month-long training to ‘Change Makers’ of it’s SHOKHI project with a view to develop Community Health Worker (CHW) and a number of 30 ‘Change Makers’ have been trained and turned into CHW in 2017.

The main objective to develop these community health workers was: it was expected that these CHW could support the community people in several ways in particular, addressing the health demands usually faced by the urban slum dwellers even, after the phase out of SHOKHI project. Whenever needed, a community member could call a CHW at his/her doorsteps so that the CHW could check/access the health status instantly and could advice/could refer them to the nearby best possible low cost service centers for the effective management of that required health demand.

After successful completion of this training program (2nd batch), “Certificate Awarding Ceremony” was held at BWHC Office on 24th August, 2017. Honorable First Secretary of EKN Ms. Annie Vestjens was the Chief Guest and Ms. Sara Hossain, Honorary Executive Director of BLAST was the Special Guest on that occasion. BWHC Chairperson, Advocate Dilruba Begum chaired the ceremony. BWHC Executive Committee members, BWHC Executive Director Mr. Sharif Mostafa Helal and SHOKHI project staffs joined the ceremony to congratulate the newly graduated CHW.

In her speech, the Chief Guest told “I read a book ‘where there’s no doctor’ – which explained how CHWs could identify common illnesses and injuries and how to manage them with lots of pictures and diagrams. Now I am very happy to see that BWHC SHOKHI developed CHWs which I hope, could contribute significantly in the community. Side by side, I want to request you all to keep studying to accumulate knowledge which has no alternatives.”

Mentioning the CHW as one of ‘Best Practice’ of SHOKHI project, the Special Guest told that the SHOKHI community health workers are part of a successful model for community justice and community empowerment, in which the young women lead on providing basic health services to their neighbors at their very doorsteps. Linking community members to other service providers and government agencies make them more acceptable and accessible to their communities and they play a role as ‘Catalysts of Changes’.

The Chairperson of BWHC told that BWHC is the pioneer organization in the field of SRHR and have a very good track record for long journey towards providing both services and awareness. She congratulated the newly graduated CHWs and wished a ‘very good luck’ to all of them and expected the dedication in their upcoming new roles. She also expressed her highest gratitude to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands for their enormous and continues supports for the project.

It needs to be noted that these CHWs were trained both theoretically and practically under the direct supervision and guidance of SHOKHI project key staff members’ e.g. the Project Manager, Paramedics etc. The training course curriculum was designed and included the below areas:

• Common Health Problems;
• General health Check-up;
• Measuring of Blood Pressure;
• ARI and its Management;
• Hypo and Hyperthermia, Causes and Management;
• Pneumonia and its Management;
• Diarrhoea: Danger signs and Management;
• ANC & PNC;
• Contraceptives: Types, eligibility and importance;
• RTI/STI: Sign, Symptoms and Importance of Treatment;
• Malnutrition: Measurement and correction;
• Roles and Responsibility CHW and authority of interventions.
• Each of the Health Workers received 3 months theoretical training and other three months hands on training on the above issues.

Equipment handed over:

• With a certificate, each of the CHW was given below equipment-
• Sphygmomanometer i.e. BP Machine
• Stethoscope
• Community Health Workers Medical Guide Book
• Thermometer

In general, SHOKHI project (in Bangla: Shastho, Odhikar O Narir Ischapuron; in English: Women’s Health Rights and Choices) in being implemented from 2014 to increase the dignity of women addressing essential health issues, the role of women in the field of socio-economic and political development and many other problems of women are addressed. In collaboration with the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Marie Stopes Bangladesh (MSB) and Amrai Pari (We Can), the BWHC implements this project with a view to increase the social and economic empowerment of women living in the urban slums in Mohakhali, Mohammadpur and Mirpur in Dhaka city, thereby increasing women’s opportunities to lead a safe, healthy and happy life with dignity. The primary beneficiaries of this project is women focusing to working women of 15 slums of aforesaid areas where the family members of primary beneficiaries, community members, communities in nearby slums, employers, other women workers, and mid-level staff at RMG factories are included as secondary members in this project.

Brief Report CHW Certificate Ceremony