Community Clinic in Bangladesh Sets a New Standard of Care

The clinic, located in Bharpasha Union in Barisal Division, has been equipped with modern facilities and trained staff to provide high-quality nutrition and counseling services. Since 2012, SPRING/Bangladesh has provided trainings on Essential Nutrition Actions (ENA) and Essential Hygiene Actions (EHA) to community health care providers, health assistants, and family planning assistants in community clinics across southern Bangladesh, including the Atakathi clinic. The clinic staff, led by Mohiuddin Mridha, the community health care provider, sees an average of 50 patients each day, mostly pregnant women and lactating mothers and their children. The staff provides nutrition counseling and advises patients to eat a diversified diet consisting of rice, fish, meat, eggs, vegetables, and fruits. Pregnant women receive iron-folate tablets and vitamin A supplements, while postpartum women are taught about immediate initiation of breastfeeding and proper positioning and attachment during breastfeeding. The clinic staff also emphasizes the importance of hygiene, discussing the benefits of handwashing and the installation of tippy taps, which are simple handwashing stations that can be installed at virtually no cost. Client Rina Begum is an avid fan of the tippy tap, stating that it has become a sensation in the area, with many households setting up their own tippy taps near toilets and kitchens. The Atakathi clinic has earned the trust of thousands of villagers, becoming a go-to place for primary health and nutrition services. SPRING's work in Bangladesh uses the 1,000 days approach within the health and agriculture sectors to facilitate social and behavior change aimed at preventing stunting in young children. The organization has trained approximately 4,500 health workers in ENA and EHA, resulting in nearly five million contacts through the health system. The clinic's success can be attributed to the supportive supervision provided by SPRING, which has helped to mainstream nutrition within the health system. Health Inspector Ratan Karmakar credits the training and supervision provided by SPRING for teaching him about creating a positive attitude about nutrition by delivering regular simple messages. The Atakathi clinic is now a source of pride for community members and a strong example for other communities seeking to upgrade and expand health care services.