DSCC launches midwifery-led maternity services
A 24/7 midwifery-led sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service has been launched at Dhaka Metropolitan General Hospital and Nazirabazar Matrisadan, under the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), to improve maternal healthcare for underserved communities in Old Dhaka.
Mr M Shahjahan Mia, Hon'ble Administrator of DSCC, inaugurated the service, which aims to reduce unnecessary caesarean deliveries and ensure safe, accessible maternity care for over 800,000 residents.
Implemented jointly by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), Zypaigo Bangladesh and DSCC, the initiative will provide 90% of its services through trained midwives and doctors, prioritising natural births to minimise risks to mothers and newborns.
"In the private sector, C-section births have been turned into a profit-making tool by instilling fear. This practice puts the entire nation at health risk," said Mr Shahjahan Mia. He expressed optimism that the project will help curb this trend and announced plans to expand midwifery services to all DSCC health centres.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Speaking at the launch, Catherine Brin Kamkong, UNFPA Bangladesh Country Representative, said, "Midwifery-led care is not just treatment—it empowers women and strengthens universal health coverage."
Senior DSCC officials, including Chief Executive Officer Md Zahirul Islam and Chief Health Officer Dr Nishat Parveen, attended the ceremony alongside representatives from the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, UNFPA, SIDA, and local and international NGOs.
This collaborative project represents a significant step toward restoring public confidence in government healthcare services and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals related to maternal and reproductive health.
