Maternal deaths reducing in shoal areas

The number of maternal and neonatal deaths and child marriage has reduced to the minimum in recent times following growing social awareness against child marriage in the remote shoal (char) areas on the Brahmaputra basin, reports BSS.
The char people have been stopping child marriage, dowry and polygamy and arranging marriage of their sons and daughters at right ages now with registration eradicating social superstitions though it was unbelievable even a decade ago.
Besides, the char people, who were married long ago, are now registering their marriages though the cent percent wedding was child marriage without registration even a decade ago in the riverine char areas.
The success has been achieved following massive motivational activities being conducted mainly by different NGOs as implementing organisations of the Chars Livelihood Programme (CLP) since 2004 in the riverine char islands.
The UKaid through the Department for International Development, Australian Government through Australian Agency for International Development and Government of Bangladesh have been assisting implementation of CLP activities.
The comprehensive CLP activities are being conducted to eradicate abject poverty of the have-nots group char families through improving livelihoods, socioeconomic conditions and health, hygiene, pure drinking water and sanitation statuses.
Head of Programme Coordination Monjusree Saha of RDRS Bangladesh, one of the CLP implementing organisations, said char people lived in utter poverty for decades together, but they are now achieving socioeconomic uplift to lead meaningful life.
“Following massive motivational works, char people are now stopping child marriage, marriage with dowry or marriage without registration reducing maternal and neonatal deaths in building a healthier and prosperous Bangladesh,” she added.
Talking to BSS, a number of CLP beneficiary couples narrated harmful impacts of the century-old social curses and superstitions in char areas though they could not even think about marriage registration and marriage at right ages in the past.
Marriage Registrars Alef Uddin and Tofazzal Hossain said they are registering all marriages of the brides and grooms only at right ages, and even, the aged couples have been registering marriages though they married long ago without registration.
Couples Ramjan Ali, 76, and Ayesha Begum, 65, Abul Hossain, 66, and Feroza, 56, Kader Fakir, 74, and Ayesha, 63, of different char villages under Roumari upazila said they registered marriages recently after a longtime of their marriages.
“Now, we understand about a better future, but earlier not,” they said and vowed to stop child marriage or marriage without registration and committed to motivate every able char couple to adopt family planning for planned families and safer delivery.
Couple Abdul Mazid, 62, and Zamila Khatun, 54, of Arazi Kanua char village under Kawnia upazila said they were married without registration long ago when maternal and neonatal deaths were common in char areas.
“It was quite unbelievable even a decade back that char people could even think about marriage registration, marriage at right ages, family planning, safe pregnancy and safe delivery to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths,” the couple said.
Chairman of Tepamadhupur union Alim Uddin under Kawnia upazila in Rangpur said number of maternal and neonatal deaths has reduced to the minimum now following huge awareness among the backward char people in building a better society.

 

Maternal deaths reducing in shoal areas

The number of maternal and neonatal deaths and child marriage has reduced to the minimum in recent times following growing social awareness against child marriage in the remote shoal (char) areas on the Brahmaputra basin, reports BSS. The char people have been stopping child marriage, dowry and polygamy and arranging marriage of their sons and daughters at right ages now with registration eradicating social superstitions though it was unbelievable even a decade ago. Besides, the char people, who were married long ago, are now registering their marriages though the cent percent wedding was child marriage without registration even a decade ago in the riverine char areas. The success has been achieved following massive motivational activities being conducted mainly by different NGOs as implementing organisations of the Chars Livelihood Programme (CLP) since 2004 in the riverine char islands. The UKaid through the Department for International Development, Australian Government through Australian Agency for International Development and Government of Bangladesh have been assisting implementation of CLP activities. The comprehensive CLP activities are being conducted to eradicate abject poverty of the have-nots group char families through improving livelihoods, socioeconomic conditions and health, hygiene, pure drinking water and sanitation statuses. Head of Programme Coordination Monjusree Saha of RDRS Bangladesh, one of the CLP implementing organisations, said char people lived in utter poverty for decades together, but they are now achieving socioeconomic uplift to lead meaningful life. Following massive motivational works, char people are now stopping child marriage, marriage with dowry or marriage without registration reducing maternal and neonatal deaths in building a healthier and prosperous Bangladesh, she added. Talking to BSS, a number of CLP beneficiary couples narrated harmful impacts of the century-old social curses and superstitions in char areas though they could not even think about marriage registration and marriage at right ages in the past. Marriage Registrars Alef Uddin and Tofazzal Hossain said they are registering all marriages of the brides and grooms only at right ages, and even, the aged couples have been registering marriages though they married long ago without registration. Couples Ramjan Ali, 76, and Ayesha Begum, 65, Abul Hossain, 66, and Feroza, 56, Kader Fakir, 74, and Ayesha, 63, of different char villages under Roumari upazila said they registered marriages recently after a longtime of their marriages. Now, we understand about a better future, but earlier not, they said and vowed to stop child marriage or marriage without registration and committed to motivate every able char couple to adopt family planning for planned families and safer delivery. Couple Abdul Mazid, 62, and Zamila Khatun, 54, of Arazi Kanua char village under Kawnia upazila said they were married without registration long ago when maternal and neonatal deaths were common in char areas. It was quite unbelievable even a decade back that char people could even think about marriage registration, marriage at right ages, family planning, safe pregnancy and safe delivery to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths, the couple said. Chairman of Tepamadhupur union Alim Uddin under Kawnia upazila in Rangpur said number of maternal and neonatal deaths has reduced to the minimum now following huge awareness among the backward char people in building a better society.