OVERVIEW

Since 1979, BEES has been implementing Health and Nutrition program in collaboration with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOH&FW). Health care is one of the most important needs to the rural poor especially women. Centralized clinics are expensive and serve only a few. These are beyond the reach of the target population. BEES visualized that the target population should have access to health, nutrition and family planning services at a reasonable cost.

BEES has been engaged in basic health care, nutrition and family planning activities for many years. The essential health program includes health & nutrition education, family planning, immunization, vitamin A distribution, antenatal care, safe delivery & postnatal care, food and nutrition and access to safe water, sanitation, etc. These services are provided to the rural poor, particularly women and the children.

Health Program

BEES has been implementing various development activities under BEES Health Program since July 2002 to improve the physical wellbeing of the target beneficiaries. Its distinctive services improve the quality of life to the underprivileged people and create an environment for improving their standard of living.

Target beneficiaries:

Family members of Microfinance program & community people of the program intervention areas.

BEES Health Program

Goal: Improve health status and develop standard of living among the target families in BEES intervention area.

Objectives: To strengthen preventive and curative health services and enhance knowledge on health, nutrition, sanitation & personal hygiene, HIV/AIDS prevention and other relevant issues.

Target beneficiaries: Family members of Microfinance program and community people especially women (reproductive age) and children (under 5 years) in the working areas.

Working areas:  Bogura, Gaibandha, Gopalgonj, Kishorganj & Narsingdi Districts of Bangladesh.

The core activities of this program are preventive and curative care on Maternal and Child Health & Family Planning (MCH-FP), treatment of general diseases, nutrition education and referral services. Under this program, BEES introduces Behavior Change Communication (BCC) and distributes BCC materials to the beneficiaries by the paramedics who provide services through static and satellite clinics. The emergency or critical cases are also referred to the nearest local health facilities having good collaboration with BEES.

BEES provides counseling through intensive communication along with social mobilization and advocacy for building awareness among target groups on maternal & child health, nutrition education and different social issues such as women’s rights, demerits of early marriage, dowry, child labor etc.

Core Services under Health Program

• Anti-natal and post-natal care
• Counseling the mothers about colostrum feeding & exclusive breast feeding
• Growth monitoring of the children (less than five years)
• Ensuring immunization for children under 2 years and reproductive women
• Counseling on Family planning methods to new-wed & fertile couples
• Provide lab test and diagnosis of diseases
• Treatment of general diseases and provide essential medicines
• Facilitate referral services to nearest UHC/UHFWC or Private Health Facilities
• Measurement of BMI for pregnant mother and adolescent girls
• Adolescent reproductive health services
• Advocacy session with mothers and adolescent girls on different issues of health, nutrition and social evils etc.
• Celebrate the National and International Health days (National Vitamin-A Campaign, World Health Day etc.) in collaboration with local govt.