Actress Masuma Rahman Nabila has called for increased government investment in healthcare to ensure quality maternal and newborn services for underserved communities in the Rangpur region.
Speaking at a press briefing at a convention hall on Central Road in Rangpur city on Monday afternoon, Nabila stressed the need to strengthen maternal and newborn care at government health facilities.
She also urged collective efforts to prevent child marriage and adolescent pregnancy.
Earlier, Nabila visited healthcare facilities under the Janani project in Rangpur division to assess the services provided to mothers and newborns.
She spoke with women seeking antenatal and postnatal care, their family members, adolescent girls working to prevent child marriage, local representatives and healthcare workers.
At the press briefing, Nabila said ensuring quality healthcare at government facilities was essential, particularly for people living in remote and char areas.
“People in remote areas should have timely access to healthcare. There should also be an effective referral system to transfer patients to better-equipped facilities when necessary,” she said.
She also stressed the importance of proper training for healthcare workers, appropriate staff placement and safe working environments.
According to her, these measures would help strengthen public confidence in government healthcare services.
Nabila also urged the government to increase healthcare allocations.
She said greater attention and investment could help ensure safer and better-quality maternal and newborn care in Rangpur.
She noted that initiatives such as the Janani project are also playing an important role in taking healthcare services to people living in hard-to-reach areas.
The Janani project is being implemented under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, with funding from KOICA and technical support from Save the Children.
Implemented by RDRS Bangladesh, the project operates across 40 unions in Rangpur and Lalmonirhat districts.
The project focuses on promoting safe childbirth, developing skilled healthcare workers and raising social awareness about maternal and child health.
Officials from Save the Children, including Dr Golam Fakhruddin Fahim, Dr Ujjal Kumar Roy, Mohammad Farazduk Bhuiyan and Ashfaq Zaman, along with other local representatives and prominent figures, attended the press briefing.
