Contraceptive use rises to 56 pc in three decades

Bangladesh made remarkable achievements in increasing the contraceptive prevalence rate to 56 per cent from 8 per cent over the last three decades. But to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the country should attain an increase in contraceptive use by more than 25 per cent up to 2015, reports BSS.
The increase in users of contraceptive was possible due to higher use of temporary methods. But the use of permanent and long-term methods has decreased during the period, a recent study of a research organisation showed.
The study conducted by the National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), Mitra and Associates, and ORC Macro 2007, showed that the majority of modern contraceptive method acceptors currently use pills even though more than half have already completed their desired family size or in case when they want no more children.
According to the study report, the current family planning programme has not been successful in motivating couples who do not want any more children in accepting long-term and permanent contraceptive methods.
“There is a little emphasis on the balance in the effective use of contraceptive methods while the imbalance in the method-mix is being considered as one of the reasons for the delay in reaching replacement level fertility,” it said.
Since high discontinuation of contraceptive methods is one of the programmatic issues persistent in many developing countries, women in Bangladesh frequently discontinue contraceptive pills, injectables and IUDs because of side-effects, the report said.
Experts in their survey report suggested training for the service providers to increase their knowledge and skills in managing contraceptive side-effects. They also need training for providing reproductive health (RH) services too, particularly reproductive tract infections (RTIs) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Programme efforts should, therefore, be strengthened to educate couples about probable side-effects of contraceptive methods and to enhance the service providers’ capacity to deliver family planning (FP) services based on clients’ eligibility as well as life cycle needs.
The Population Council has undertaken an operations research study under the Demand Based Reproductive Health Commodity Project (DBRHCP) to test a service delivery model, which is intended to enhance the rational use of modern contraceptive methods among rural women in Bangladesh, it mentioned.
The NIPORT is implementing the project with four partners with financial assistance of Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and technical assistance by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Meanwhile, donor contributions for contraceptives and condoms for HIV prevention globally amounted to $223 million in 2007, a five per cent increase over the 2006 total of $212 million, according to a new analysis by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
“This is despite a growing unmet need for such supplies, as more couples use modern methods of contraception and world population continues to increase,” the experts commented in the report.
Contained in donor support for contraceptives and condoms for STD and HIV prevention in 2007 the, the report showed that funding for these supplies had virtually stagnated since 2001, when it peaked at $224 million.
According to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals report for 2007, globally some 200 million women have an unmet need for effective family planning.
The report also showed that donor investments in the female condom marked a six-fold increase from nearly $2 million in 2001 to almost $13 million in 2007. In addition, it said, 85 per cent of donor support in 2007 was allocated to three types of supplies: male condoms, oral contraceptives and injectables.

Dhaka can take lessons from Beijing : Rasheda

Adviser for Women and Children Affairs Rasheda K Chowdhury Saturday described Dhaka-Beijing friendship as an excellent one since time immemorial in terms of trade and commerce, culture and history and said, Bangladesh could take lessons from China, reports UNB.
Bangladesh should follow the strategies of China to move towards economic prosperity as China had shown amazing economic achievement in agriculture, industry and human resources development, she said at a discussion at a city hotel this afternoon.
Bangladesh-China People’s Friendship Association (BCPFA) organised the discussion on the “30th anniversary of China’s Reform and Opening Up” on the occasion of 59th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.
Chinese ambassador Zheng Qingdian spoke as the special guest, while former ambassador of Bangladesh to China Ashfaqur Rahman also addressed it.
BCPFA general secretary SA Sikder gave the welcome speech while its president Anwarul Amin made the concluding remarks.
Rasheda pointed out that side by side with pursuing investment friendly policy and investment security and riding on an efficient bureaucracy, China is addressing its environmental issues, which could be a lesson for Bangladesh.
Zheng said, China had achieved comprehensive national achievements and as a result of reform measures, the country emerged as 3rd largest trading nation from 32rd.
It is s remarkable achievement in the history of the world that over 200 million Chinese have been lifted out of poverty, he added.
Ashfaqur, also chairman of Centre for Foreign Affairs Studies, said that today’s China is more open and mobile society encouraged by not only economic prosperity but cultural revolution.

Passport issuing work begins in Rajshahi div

Issue and delivery of passport is scheduled to start in 16 districts under Rajshahi division through 17 post offices on Sunday after Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions, reports BSS.
Like Rajshahi, same activities will start in Barisal and Khulna divisions today.
This was disclosed at a daylong training workshop styled “One Point Passport Service” arranged by the Northern region of Bangladesh Postal Department here.
With Additional Postmaster General Shafiqul Alam in the chair, the workshop was attended by 120 officers and employees concerned like Deputy postmaster general, assistant postmaster general, senior accountant, superintendent, inspector, postmaster and assistant postmaster.
Senior postmaster of Dhaka GPO Harunur Rashid and assistant director of regional passport office Abu Sayed conducted the training.
Rajshahi GPO, Ghoramara Head Post Office and all other head post offices in Chapainawabgonj, Natore, Naogaon, Bogra, Joypurhat, Pabna, Sirajgonj, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts will provide the service.

Memorial plaque unveiled

Former Air-Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandaker, Bir Uttam, on Friday unveiled the memorial plaque of five martyrs of Liberation War who were killed on October 10, 1971, reports BSS.
With Abdul Malek, a freedom fighter, in the chair it was addressed, among others, by Mofidul Haq, Trustee and Secretary of Muktijoddha Jadhughar, Dhaka and Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists.
In the afternoon, he unveiled another memorial plaque, set up at Baraipatal area in the upazila in memory of 58 martyrs, including 11 freedom fighters.

Obituary

Rafiqul Islam (Selim), Assistant Information Officer of Dhaka District Information Office, died of cardiac arrest at his government residence at Taltala, Agargoan in the city on Thursday night. He was 55, says a press release.
Selim is survived by his wife, two sons and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.
He was buried at his family graveyard at Majimara village of Nabinagar Upazila, Brahmanbaria district.
Qualkhawani of the deceased will be held at his government residence B-14 Taltala, Agargoan.

4 drug-peddlers held, huge phensidyl seized

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested four suspected drug-peddlers and seized huge 1,261 bottles of phensidyl from different areas in two northern districts during the last 24 hours till Saturday afternoon, RAB sources here said Saturday afternoon, reports BSS.
Based on a tip-off, a team of the elite force conducted a sudden raid at Polashy Fatepur area in Rajshahi district and seized 1,157 bottles of phensidyl after searching a country-made mechanized boat and arrested a drug-peddler Polan, 38, son of late Jashim Uddin of Char Narayanpur village under Bagha upazila in this connection.
In another drive conducted at Halidagachhi village under Charghat upazila of the district RAB personnel arrested another drug-trader identified as Milon, 20, son of Yar Muhammad, with 48 bottles of phensidyl red-handed.
They also arrested two other drug-traders Rahidul Islam, 30, and Samir Jalal, 48, and seized 56 bottles of phensidyl and four bottles of wine from their possessions during a raid at Joypurhat railway station area.
The arrested persons and the seized drugs were handed over to the concerned police stations after recording separate cases in these connections.

Dr Muztaba Ali joins Apollo Hospitals

Dr Md Muztaba Ali has recently joined in orthopedics department of Apollo Hospitals Dhaka as a consultant, says a press release.
He has completed his MBBS from Dhaka University in 1984, MS (orthopedics) from the same university in 1997. Apart from that, he also did fellowship in Sports Medicine from Post Graduate Medical Institute, Singapore.
Before joining Apollo Hospitals Dhaka, he has worked at NITOR (Pangu Hospital) as Asst Professor.
Dr Ali has special interest on arthoplasty and arthscopic knee surgery and he is considered as the only knee surgeon of the country. Dr Ali did more than 1000 arthscopic reconstructive surgeries and about 100 total knee replacement along with other orthopedic and trauma surgeries. He is also passionate to do orthopaedic rehabilitation to physically-disabled children.

Language veteran Mofiz Ali passes away

Mofiz Ali, noted trade union leader of tea gardens and language veteran, died of brain haemorrhage at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital on Friday, reports BSS.
He was 82, family sources said. Mofiz Ali is survived by two sons, one daughter and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.
He was buried at his family graveyard at Dupatila village under Kamalganj Upazila in the district following a namaj-e-janaza on Friday afternoon.
Mofiz Ali, also a Vice-President of Bangladesh Trade Union and a leader of National Democratic Party, had been suffering from a head injury.
He was actively involved in language movement in 1952.
Mofiz Ali was admitted to hospital on August 30 after he received serious head injury in a road accident five weeks ago.

9 guns recovered

A patrol team of joint forces recovered nine abandoned pipe guns, nine live bullets and 33 shells of bullet from a remote area of Belaichhari upazila, 40 kilometers off Rangamati district headquarter here this morning, police said, reports BSS.

JNU classes resume today

Classes of the Jagannath University (JNU) will resume from today after the Eid and Puja vacation, reports UNB.
Official activities of the university, however, began from October 6 after Eid holidays. The university went a 21-day vacation on September 20 on the occasion of Eid and Durga puja.
The university registrar office sources said, the activities for enrolment of students under new academic session of the university would begin days after reopening the university.

Weather

Dry weather likely

Weather may remain mainly dry with partly cloudy sky over the country in the next 24 hours till 6pm today (Sunday), reports UNB.
Day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, Met Office said.
Country’s highest temperature 34.3 degrees Celsius was recorded Saturday at Cox’s Bazar and lowest 22.2 degrees at Srimongol.
The sun sets in the capital today at 5:34pm and rises on Monday at 5:55am.

DHAKA NOTES