Family Planning is one of the most important and vital components of BEES health program. The program staff put their earnest efforts to raise awareness about the benefits of small family size and increase the percentage of users of family planning devices through motivation.

The community based MCH-FP program of BEES was registered under the Family Planning Directorate of Govt. of Bangladesh. Therefore, the program staff received family planning devices from the Upazila Family Planning Offices and distributed the materials among the fertile couples within the community in one month round. Oral Pills and Condoms were distributed to the beneficiaries against a normal service charge, while the methods IUD and Injection were provided by the Paramedics at the BEES operated static and satellite clinics and eligible couples were referred to the GO/NGO clinics for adopting the methods – Tubectomy, Vasectomy and Norplant. At the end of reporting period, more than 72% of the eligible couples adopted family planning methods. Among the adopters (i.e. 72% couples) 48% of the eligible couples adopted Oral Pill and Condom while 24% of the couples adopted IUD, Injection, Vasectomy, Tubectomy and Norplant.

Under general health care services and nutrition education to the community people, program staff carried out various types of activities during the reference period. The program staff provided preventive and curative primary health services through a total of 660 satellite clinics while about 300 satellite clinics were arranged jointly with EPI. Moreover, 1,514 EPI centers were arranged jointly with GoB. During the reporting session 2003-2003, over 4,000 patients received basic curative health services for different common diseases

Other Interventions

For awareness raising, a total of 38 Video Film shows and 31 Audio Songs were organized at community level with the participation of a huge number of community people. Moreover, several rallies, campaigns etc. on health related issues were held and National Immunization Days (NID) were also observed by BEES through organizing rallies along with miking and banner with the participation of community mothers and children. Apart from these activities, a total of 3,389 courtyard meetings were held with the participation of about 74,000 community mothers. The main objectives of the courtyard meetings were to motivate and educate the community mothers about health and nutrition.

In addition, the staff took initiatives to perform some activities for better coordination among the stakeholders and smooth implementation of the interventions. To strengthen the relationship among government and non-government stakeholders and to get their support services for smooth functioning of the program, a mentionable number of collaborative activities were organized by the program staff through out the planned period at different level.