Menstrual Regulation (MR) and Menstrual Regulation with Medication (MRM) services are essential, and initiatives are needed to make people aware of the availability of these services said experts in the seminar organised in Dhaka by RedOrange and NEARS on Sunday.
MR service providers were present at the event who spoke about their experience and challenges they face in the field. The Chief Guest, SahanAraBanu, ndc, Director General, (Grade-1), Directorate General of Family Planning, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said, “The issues raised at this seminar regarding the situation of MR services in the field will be worked on.”
Special Guest Md. Aminul Islam, Line Director (FP – FSD), Directorate General of Family Planning, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said, “We often see there is a gap in knowledge and perception between the service receiver and service provider regarding MR services..”
MR and MRM is a legal service provided by the government to reduce the maternal mortality rate in Bangladesh. However, many women and girls don’t know about the availability of these services. Similarly, many service providers refrain from providing MR and MRM due to social and religious reasons. As a result, the women and girls end up terminating their unwanted pregnancy from unskilled service providers. A substantial number of maternal mortality is caused by unsafe abortion conducted by unskilled service providers.
Special Guest Dr. Mohammed Sharif, Director, (MCH- Services) and Line Director- (MC-RAH), Directorate General of Family Planning, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said, “In 2014 we got the proper guideline for MR which improved the quality of the services.”
The seminar was organised by Safety Wing, a project that was implemented in three districts focussing on raising awareness and providing information, a press release said.
ArnobChakrabarty, Managing Director, RedOrange Media and Communications said, “Misconceptions about MR are present in every nook and corner of the society. Therefore, public awareness is needed to normalise MR. And to ensure this, we need a holistic communication package.”
The seminar was attended by MR service providers, CSOs and grassroots organisations.
