The Sanofi Espoir Foundation has invited project proposals from NGOs or other organisations focused on fighting maternal and neonatal mortality in Bangladesh for
the neediest communities by strengthening midwifery practices.
The foundation’s communication manager to Bangladesh, Farhana Tofail, on Wednesday made the call for project projects at a press conference at National Press Club while its director of medical and regulatory affairs Mahmood Abedin Khan was present.
Mahmood said each year around 3,00,000 women die during pregnancy or childbirth while nearly two million newborns die within the first 24 hours of life.
According to the 2011 State of the World’s Midwifery, the death of infants occur in the 58 developing countries which are classified as ‘high risk’ and Bangladesh is one of them, he added.
Farhana said the purpose of the call for project was to apply financial and human resources to identify and encourage programmes at local, regional and international levels that support health policies in the fight against maternal and neonatal mortality.
The project will cover educating new midwives, continuing education of practicing midwives or return to practice course for those who are no longer in practice, and attracting, retaining or re-engaging people with the right competencies, she added.
The project proposal should be consistent with the theme of the call for projects, supporting the fight against maternal and neonatal mortality while strengthening midwifery competencies through initial education, continual education, recruiting and retaining midwives, she said.
Farhana also informed that the foundation will provide special priority to the proposal from remote areas.
-With New Age input
