BRAC’s WASH programme improves maternal health in underserved areas

Sanitary toilet usage among low-income urban households has risen sharply from just 10 per cent to 69 per cent over the past five years, according to data presented by BRAC at a national dissemination workshop in Dhaka.

Held at the BRAC Centre, the event shared key findings from the five-year Integrated Rehabilitation Programme for Health and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Services, implemented in selected urban settlements of Mirpur and Mohammadpur under Dhaka North City Corporation, and Saidpur Municipality. The initiative was funded by the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Programme (KAAP) through the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

Significant progress was reported across multiple indicators. Daily access to safe water rose from 51 to 80 per cent, while the use of sanitary pads among women increased from 53 to 90 per cent. Antenatal care coverage for at least four visits improved from 45 to 71 per cent, and postnatal care coverage rose from 21 to 49 per cent. Moreover, 94 per cent of households now have access to drinking water, and mosquito control efforts expanded from 54 to 85 per cent in the targeted areas.

The programme focused on improving health infrastructure and promoting long-term behavioural changes in underserved urban areas. With more than 5.4 million people living in slums across Bangladesh—some in extremely dense conditions exceeding 200,000 people per square kilometre—access to clean water, sanitation, and primary healthcare remains a pressing challenge.

The workshop was attended by senior BRAC officials, development partners, urban governance representatives, and community members from Dhaka and Saidpur.

Chief Guest Brigadier General Imru-al-Quais Chowdhury, Chief Health Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation, highlighted the need for institutional collaboration, noting that every dollar invested in the WASH sector can yield USD 4.30 in returns. He also encouraged programme diversification to enhance impact and align with the City Corporation's efforts to improve urban living standards.

Dr Md Liakath Ali, Director of Climate Change, Urban Development, and Disaster Risk Reduction at BRAC, noted that the initiative had made tangible progress in antenatal and postnatal care, menstrual health, sanitation, and behaviour change. "These results provide a strong foundation for designing future interventions," he said in his closing remarks.

Md Arif Shahid, Country Coordinator of KAAP at IsDB, emphasised co-financing strategies involving community contributions for future initiatives, with continued focus on healthcare components.

Dr Shayla Islam, Associate Director of BRAC Health Programme, underscored improvements in postnatal care and tuberculosis management. She noted that stakeholder coordination and engagement of local governments were critical lessons from the initiative, adding that community involvement plays a key role in driving behavioural change over time.

Dr Nazneen Akhter, Managing Director of VAALO Avant-Garde Ltd., presented a comprehensive overview of the national urban health and WASH context.

The workshop also included an open discussion session facilitated by Imamul Azam Shahi, Programme Head of BRAC Urban Development Programme (UDP), where community representatives from Dhaka and Saidpur shared their experiences. Their remarks reinforced the importance of inclusive dialogue and collaborative action to address the pressing health and hygiene challenges facing Bangladesh's urban slums.