This is the Plenary Presentation of Mr Quazi AKM Mohiul Islam, which took place as part of Sixth session of 10th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (APCRSHR10) Virtual, on 31st August 2020, on the theme of "Innovative financing for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Asia and the Pacific". SESSION CHAIR Dr Ashish Bajracharya Population Council's Deputy Director for global country strategy and regional representative for South and East Asia PLENARY SPEAKER Quazi AKM Mohiul Islam former Director General, Directorate General of Family Planning, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh "COVID-19 and SRHR issues in Bangladesh" A B S T R A C T P R E S E N T A T I O N S * Loida Almendares Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Context of Socioeconomic Development and Equity Sustainable and innovative financing to ensure SRHR access to all, with "Public-Private Partnership Bridge Funding" * Dr Moazzam Ali Are family planning vouchers effective in increasing use, improving equity and reaching the underserved? An evaluation of a voucher program in Pakistan * Prof Angela Dawson Launch of the Asia Pacific Consortium for Emergency Contraception (APCEC) * Zahra Fathi Geshnigani Investing for health, advocating on prioritizing resource mobilization and allocation for treatment of Sexual transmitted infections; sensitizing stakeholders and policy maker for supporting the HCV treatment for vulnerable groups in Iran For more information on this session go to www.bit.ly/apcrshr10virtual6 #SRHR #sexualhealth #reproductiverights #familyplanning #womenshealth #LGBT #genderequality #SDGs

1. 1

2. Covid-19 and SRHR issues in
Bangladesh
2
QUAZI A.K.M. MOHIUL ISLAM
Ex- Director General
Directorate General of Family Planning
BANGLADESH

3. BANGLADESH
3
POPULATION:
160 MILLION

4. COVID-19:
When it was confirmed in Bangladesh?
 The COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh is part of the
worldwide pandemic.
 The virus was confirmed to have spread to Bangladesh in
March 2020.
4

5. Population Growth Rate
2.4
2.2
1.41 1.37
1.5 1.43
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
1981 1991 2001 2004 2006 2011
5
Source: Census 2011

6. COVID-19: FP Programs in Bangladesh
 The government of Bangladesh has taken Infection
Prevention and Control measures in health facilities to
limit the spread.
 Although, Health system priority has been shifted to
prevent and treat COVID-19 patients, it was always felt
necessary to meet the reproductive health needs as well.
 During pandemic, the need for family planning is
unchanged.

7. COVID-19 : FP Programs ..Contd
 During first few months, people were panicked
 the virus was new and its management was not fully known.
 GOB and development partners, working together in the
COVID-19 emergency response to ensure screening, testing
and treatment of COVID-19 positive cases.

8. COVID-19:FP Programs (Contd.)
 Due to ‘stay at home’ situation, physical movements were
severely affected
 This compelling restriction has a significant impact on the
access to FP services including sexual and reproductive
health services.
 During this threatening situation women and adolescent
girls’ health needs are at risk; especially access to ANC,
delivery and postnatal services.
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9. COVID-19: FP Programs (Contd.)
The government declared general holidays from
March 26 to the end of July 2020 to ensure social
distancing and to limit the community spread.
All the service centers and health facilities were kept
open for a particular time every day to offer FP
services
Contraception and family planning information and
services are life-saving and important at all times.

10. Trend in CPR and TFR
10
8
31
40
45
49
54
58 56
61 62
72
75
6.3
5.1 4.3 3.4 3.3 3.3 3 2.7 2.3 2.3 2 1.7
1975 1989 1991 1994 1997 2000 2004 2007 2011 2014 2016 2021
CPR TFR

11. COVID-19:FP Programs (Contd.)
 General holidays/lockdown result in close stay of
individuals and couples, increasing chances of sexual
activity.
 From the beginning, the Health Ministry is working
with DGFP, DGHS, Development Partners and private
sectors to strengthen coordination for Contraceptive
use during the Pandemic.
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12. DIFFERENT INITIATIVES TO COPE COVID-19
 GOB formed a National Committee to suggest actions
and strategies to handle pandemic
 The National Preparation and Response Plan,
made on the basis of the Government policy, WHO’s
guideline and prevailing situation of the pandemic .
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13. UNFPA’s PROJECTION
 The National Plan considered recent projections from
UNFPA on the increase of unintended pregnancies
with the continuation of lockdown.
 The issue of limited access to family planning services
during this pandemic is also taken in to account.
 The plan also considered the impact on an already
strained health system, and complications that arise
from termination of pregnancy .
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14. PARTICIPATION OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS
 Representatives of
DGFP, DGHS ,UNFPA, DFID, USAID, OGSB, GAC,
SMC,IPAS,IPPF, Options Ltd. and other stakeholders
contributed in making the plan
 Supporting to provide information on FP-MCH at
community level by recruiting 619 volunteers at 43
sub-districts across the country;
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15. PARTICIPATION OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS.. Contd.
 Supported by UNFPA, FP-FSD has recruited 18 Family
Planning Facilitators who are working now in 25
districts.
 The FP Facilitators are sharing the updates of their
working areas regularly by using digital platform.
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16. PARTICIPATION OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS.. Contd.
 With support of UNFPA, FP-FSD has recruited 18
Family Planning Facilitators who are working now in
25 districts.
 The FP Facilitators are sharing the updates of their
working areas regularly by using digital platform.
 FP Facilitators supporting FP Officials to ensure the
quality care in the service centers during this
pandemic.
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17. National Committee’s Directions given for Government and NGO,
Policy Makers, Managers
 To ensure enough supply of Contraceptives at all
service centers and shops and with the service
providers.
 To ensure Supportive supervision for monitoring
availability of commodities and wellbeing of the
providers , through direct or virtual communication.
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18. Directions given for the
service providers and policy makers
The Services Providers are given following directions :
 Sexual and Reproductive Health Service providers are
encouraged to increase use of mobile phones.
 Use of digital technologies to increase telephonic
counseling and sharing of messages related to safe and
effective use of contraceptives.
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19. SUPPLY OF COMMODITIES TO FP WAREHOUSES
 Govt. made available of contraceptives to all 21
Regional Warehouses
 Regional Warehouses supplying contraceptives to 498
Sub-districts and other Family Welfare Centers,
located at Union/community level
 Initially, movements were restricted, latest stock
position and need for contraception was ascertained
through on-line Logistic Management Information
System(LMIS) of DGFP.
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20. RECOMMENDATIONS OF NATIONAL COMMITTEE
 To ensure immediate post-partum contraceptive
services (preferably PPIUD, PP Implant or tubal
ligation) after proper counseling and consent.
 To ensure enough supply of Contraceptives at all
service centers and shops and with the service
providers.
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21. RECOMMENDATIONS OF NATIONAL COMMITTEE..contd.
 To relax restrictions on the quantities (cycles) of short
acting contraceptives dispensed to users to avoid or
reduce frequency of visits.
 To develop and disseminate messages with simple
language through different communication channels
including TVC, TV scrolling, social media, radio,
community radio, TV talk show etc.
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22. Initiatives of Field Services Delivery (FSD) of DGFP
 Suggested using short acting methods like oral pill,
condom, injectables.
 Instructed for maintaining physical distancing.
 Provided fund to purchase hygiene management
equipment for all UH&FWCs across the country;
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23. Initiatives….Contd.
 With support of UNFPA, FP-FSD has developed BCC materials
and distributed to all service centers of DGFP all over the
country;
 It is advised to use and increase Hub/Depot system at
community level due to difficulties in organizing LAPM camps.
 Hubs/depots are led by retired FP workers or community
leaders.
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24. Contraceptive Prevalence Rate:
Proportion of currently married women( Source BDHS 2017-18)
24
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80

25. Comparison of Sales of FP items
Sales of Items
(Private pharmacies)
May 2019 May 2020 Increase/
decrease
Pills (million cycles) 24 27 increased
Condoms( in million pcs.) 8.3 11.58 increased
ECP ( million dose) 0.2 0.241 increased
Inject. Somaject (million Vials) 0.46 0.597 increased
Inject. Sayana(million Vials) 21254 13303 decreased
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26. SUPPLY OF COMMODITIES TO FP
WAREHOUSES(Contd.)
Because of continuous monitoring and supply of
commodities, there were no stock outs during
pandemic.
Community distribution, house to house counseling
and satellite sessions hampered for few days.

27. DECLINING TREND OF USE OF MODERN
METHODS
Women are refraining from visiting health facilities due
to fears about COVID-19 exposure or due to movement
restrictions.
Thus, uptake of modern methods was on reducing trend
but the institutional delivery followed by post partum
IUD, tubectomy and implants is going on.
There has been significant decrease in uptake of long-term
reversible contraceptives.

28. DECLINING TREND (%) OF FP METHODS IN APRIL2020
COMPARED TOAPRIL2019
28
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
PILLS CONDOMS33 INJECTIONS39 IUD IMPLANT NSV TUBECTOMY

29. SUMMARY OF SRHR ACTIVITIES
DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Awareness building activities on SRHR are
continuously being done in all FP service centers
SBCC materials, pertinent to cope up pandemic, are
regularly being disseminated
All FP service centers are kept open everyday during
pandemic
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30. SUMMARY OF SRHR ACTIVITIES
DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC (Contd.)
Personal Protective Equipment have been distributed
to the service centers of all FP enabling the service
providers to work safely
Contraceptives are made available to all Ware Houses
and stores of DGFP
TV scrolls on newly emerging issues are regularly
being screened
Virtual meetings are regularly being conducted at the
Headquarters
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31. FUTURE ACTIVITIES BY THE GOVERMENT
Government is considering a modality of adequately
protecting the front line health workers and other
members of the health force
 Promoting community-based distribution of
contraceptives (Short Acting methods) through
Community Depot Holders – a concept that has been
successfully implemented in some contexts.
Organizing special programs, workshops and
motivational activities in the Divisional, District and
Community levels as soon as the situation becomes
normal.

32. CONSIDERATION FOR FUTURE ACTIVITIES
BY THE GOVERNMENT(Contd.)
DGFP to further develop and disseminate messages
with simple language through different
communication channels including TV scrolling,
social media, radio, community radio, TV talk show.
 Promoting telemedicine through the FP Call
Centre, already in operation, for counseling and
referral services.
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33. CONSIDERATION FOR FUTURE ACTIVITIES
BY THE GOVERNMENT(Contd.)
DGFP to form a Family Planning Task Force as a
leading advocacy platform to review the current status
of the FP and SRHR issues during COVID-19
 Identify appropriate strategic priorities strengthen
and continuity of FP services during COVID-19
pandemic situation.
Make specific recommendations to achieve the
various targets of FP and SRHR, those have been
affected during pandemic.
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34. CONCLUSION
Everyday the COVID-19 pandemic is teaching us new
lessons.
DGFP is working with partners around the country to
understand and share the information as to how
this pandemic is affecting
At present, SRH services are being provided, as far as
practicable, during pandemic, all over the country.
WHO’s guidelines and instructions of the
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh is
being followed.
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