Satkhira villagers empowered thru health initiatives for a better future

The local administration has declared seven villages in Debhata upazila of Satkhira as "Healthy Villages" following the successful implementation of the Right2Grow project, implemented by World Vision Bangladesh.

The project empowered villagers by advocating for their rights to access government services easily, enabling them to improve their living standards while ensuring health and safety.

Funded by the Netherlands and running from 2021 to 2025, the project is being implemented across underserved areas by a consortium of six NGOs: World Vision Bangladesh, Action Against Hunger, the Centre for Economic Governance and Accountability Africa, Max Foundation, Save the Children and The Hunger Project.

As a stakeholder, World Vision Bangladesh is implementing the project in 5 unions of Debhata.

Md Asaduzzaman, upazila nirbahi officer of Debhata, said the project has played a crucial role in improving healthcare services in the remote region.

"After conducting on-site verifications and confirming proper hygiene practices are being followed in the seven villages, we have officially declared them as 'Healthy Villages'," he added.

To be recognised as a "Healthy Village", each village had to meet nine key criteria set by the Right2Grow project. 

These criteria include access to safe water, improved sanitation, proper handwashing practices, administering colostrum to newborns within the first hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, birth registration and regular growth measurement recorded in chart for children under 5 years of age.

Additional requirements include health check-ups for pregnant women and lactating mothers at-least 4 times as well as raising awareness of government services among villagers.

To implement these criteria and to motivate all the villagers to exercise their rights, World Vision has engaged a total of 80 civil society organisations (CSOs) in five unions of Debhata.

Jaganmay Prajesh Biswas, project manager at World Vision Bangladesh, told The Business Standard, "We did not provide any financial assistance to meet these nine criteria. Our role was to raise awareness about health issues among the villagers. After listening to our guidance, they took action on their own." 

Azizpur Healthy Village 

Azizpur village in Debhata upazila is one among the seven villages officially recognised as a "Healthy Village" in November 2024.

According to an assessment of the civil society organisations, all 324 families in the village now have access to safe drinking water and use improved sanitation systems. 

Additionally, proper handwashing practices are followed, all four newborns in the village have received colostrum, all 10 infants have been exclusively breastfed for six months, and 46 children under the age of five have birth registration and growth charts.

Furthermore, five pregnant women and three postpartum mothers have attended at least four health check-ups at the local clinic.

Nasima Akhter, a housewife and mother of three in Debhata, said nutrition and healthcare were never among her priorities due to her financial situation.

However, a courtyard meeting organised by the Right2Grow project changed her mind. "By growing seasonal vegetables and rearing chickens in our backyard, we could improve our family's nutrition at minimal cost with government support."

Another resident, pregnant mother Rokeya Khatun, said she was unaware of proper maternal healthcare during her first pregnancy and avoided going to a clinic, fearing the extra costs.

"Now I know government health clinics provide check-ups with minimal cost. I've already had four check-ups during this pregnancy," added Rokeya.

One of the biggest challenges in Satkhira is access to drinking water. Addressing this issue, CSO member Firoz Shah Alam explained, "The government has taken steps to ensure drinking water for the village. Almost every household now has a rainwater harvesting system, and several community water filtration systems have been installed. Increased awareness has played a key role in making this possible."

Abdul Matin Bokul, chairman of No 5 Debhata Sadar Union Parishad, "The people of this village are now more health-conscious. I believe this is a sustainable transformation that will continue to support a healthier future for generations to come."