A stakeholder workshop on health and nutrition was held in Chapainawabganj under the Resilience Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Improvement (RELI) Project of the Social Development Foundation (SDF). The workshop was presided over by Md. Mahabubur Rashid, District Manager of SDF Chapainawabganj. The chief guest was Dr. Syed Md. Suman, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer of Sadar Upazila. Also present were medical officers from Sadar Upazila Health Complex,
representatives of union-level sub-health centers and community clinics.

Representing SDF were Md. Azam Khan, Regional Manager (Finance), Md. Asadur Rahman, Regional Manager (Construction & Environment) of Jessore Region, along with district officials, cluster officers,
cluster-level Health & Nutrition Facilitators from two clusters of Sadar upazila, and two conveners of village-level Health & Nutrition Committees.

At the beginning, District Manager Mahabubur Rashid said that the RELI Project is an initiative of the Financial Institutions Division under the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Bangladesh,
implemented by SDF. He stated that the project aims to alleviate poverty, enhance skills and create employment through training, engage ultra-poor and poor communities in income-generating activities with financial support, ensure food security, form sustainable rural organizations, provide one-time grants for disadvantaged people, develop rural infrastructure, create jobs for unemployed youth, and
provide livelihood, health, and nutrition support.

In his detailed presentation, SDF District Health & Nutrition Officer Dr. Md. Ismail mentioned that SDF conducted 60 free health camps among poor and ultra-poor members of 50 village organizations in Sadar
upazila, where 1,859 people received primary treatment and advice, and 77 were referred for advanced care. A total of BDT 2,995,200 was distributed as maternity allowance to 312 pregnant mothers. Another
BDT 200,000 was provided to 20 high-risk mothers (BDT 10,000 each). In addition, 7,563 packets of winter vegetable seeds and 7,476 packets of summer vegetable seeds were distributed. Between 34,000 and 59,500 pieces of iron, vitamin, calcium, and zinc tablets, along with saline, were distributed. Moreover, 8,500 families will each receive 12 handwashing soaps.

He emphasized that the patients referred by SDF to hospitals or organizations come from ultra-poor and poor communities, and he requested all concerned to provide them with the best possible services.

Chief Guest Dr. Syed Md. Suman highly praised SDF’s health and nutrition activities, describing the maternity and cesarean allowance program as a humane and timely initiative. He, along with other
guests, expressed hope that they would provide services to SDF’s village organization members to the best of their capacity. He also sought cooperation in encouraging beneficiaries to participate in the
upcoming Typhoid Vaccination Campaign scheduled for October 12, 2025.
Finally, workshop chair District Manager Md. Mahabubur Rashid congratulated everyone, wished them well, and urged for SDF’s activities to be expanded nationwide before declaring the workshop
concluded.