Objective

To improve the utilization of quality maternal and newborn care (MNC) services in Bangladesh.

Background

USAID’s MaMoni Maternal and Newborn Care Strengthening Project (MNCSP) has been implementing the objective of increasing the equitable utilization of quality maternal and newborn care related services at the public healthcare facilities. Dnet, as the technological partner of MNCSP, aimed to design prospective technology-based healthcare models to eradicate the delays causing maternal and neonatal deaths by disseminating MNC care-related information to the pregnant and neonatal mothers, providing an effective referral transport system to lower the travel time from home to facility, developing an effective registration, queue management and reporting system to lower the waiting and reporting time as well as the crowd at different service points of a facility, and lastly, designing and implementing an effective client feedback mechanism focusing on MNC related services using KIOSK to improve the quality of care at the public health care facilities.

Approach

Dnet has been implementing MNC pilot models in different districts of Bangladesh to attain its objective via 4 technological components: mHealth, a facilitated referral transport model, an OpenMRS+ based queue management and reporting system, and a KIOSK-based client feedback mechanism.

mHealth based SMS and OBD reminder service

Dnet has implemented mHealth based SMS and OBD reminder system initially in Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj district, and later on, scaled up the operation in 32 districts. Dnet has been sending service reminder SMS to the beneficiaries. As of now, Dnet has sent more than 60,000 SMS reminders to more than 20,000 beneficiaries in 32 districts. Dnet launched OBD based content service in Habiganj and Brahmanbaria districts. Since the initiation of this service, Dnet has provided more than 6,000 OBD content to more than 3,000 beneficiaries.

It was found that 81% of the beneficiaries think that the SMS reminder reminded them about the antenatal and postnatal checkup effectively through a survey conducted by Dnet research team.

Facilitated Referral Transport Model (FRTM)

Dnet has designed and developed a transport referral model similar to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) model to provide an emergency transportation system to take expecting mothers and delivery patients from home to the nearest facility, provided that the facility has the required service for the patients, for maternal checkup and emergencies.

In this system, patients call an emergency CRM number to request an emergency transportation, where a mediator receives and processes the request using a GIS based dashboard to fetch and connect the nearest available driver with the patient or their family members. Mediators use the system to contact the nearest public health facilities which have the required service sought by the patient. Since the initiation, Dnet’s facilitated referral transport model handled more than 500 transportation requests from 4 unions of Daulatpur upazila of Manikganj district. Dnet and MNCSP plan to expand the operation to other upazilas of Manikganj district after the completion of the pilot run in Daulatpur upazila.

OpenMRS+ based registration, queue and reporting management system

Dnet’s OpenMRS+ based service has been implemented at Manikganj District Hospital and Daulatpur Upazila Health Complex. Using this system, public healthcare facilities can provide registration tickets to the clients at a faster speed which saves up to 51 minutes at Manikganj District Hospital. OpenMRS+ based system also has provision of documenting patient history of the MNH, IMCI, ITD, laboratory, emergency and pharmacy corners of the facilities. This way, service providers can prepare the monthly and yearly reporting to incorporate with the DHIS2 system within a day compared to the 6-7 days of manual system. This registration and patient history data can be accumulated with the government's SHR system to develop health data of the population of the farthest corners of the country. Through the queue management system, patients can understand the approximate waiting time for the physicians’ consultation at the waiting areas. This way, crowds can be managed in an easier manner.

KIOSK based client feedback mechanism

Dnet’s program & technology team has designed & developed a KIOSK based feedback management system to capture the feedback of the clients served at the MNCH corners of public health care facilities. Using the feedback of the clients, public healthcare facilities can identify the areas where improvement is needed so that they can increase the Quality of Care (QoC). Dnet’s system has received more than 700 feedback at the MNCH corner through the KIOSK installed at Manikganj District Hospital. A dashboard has also been prepared to acknowledge the authority of the facility on the condition of the service and improvement areas.

Objective

To develop the knowledge and skills of secondary grade teachers and prepare them as an first aider of mental wellbeing through training and regular assistance on understanding young and adolescent minds, learning about detecting behavioral signs of vulnerability and age appropriate intervention. Also to explore a school based integrated mental wellbeing approach with remote monitoring for sustained promotion of tolerance and peaceful practice among the adolescent and youth.

Background

Dnet worked on mental wellbeing of adolescents for enhancing tolerance and inclusiveness in thinking and whole school behavioral management approach. The project was designed to promote tolerance and inclusion over the ideological differences and conflict that can be minimized by ensuring mental wellbeing at young age. Teacher can play an important role to manage behavior of students through proper intervention based on capacity development for mental wellbeing of adolescents.

Due to the growing tendency of intolerance over different ideological belief, it showed a demand of early detection of behavioral signs and appropriate interventions through addressing the psychological reasons of vulnerability. The project was designed to promote tolerance and inclusion over the ideological differences and conflict that can be minimized by ensuring mental wellbeing at young age. Teacher can play an important role to manage behavior of students through proper intervention based on capacity development for mental wellbeing of adolescents.

Teachers and parents with knowledge and skills on behavioral signs of mental wellbeing can be the appropriate change agent to guide them in a right direction to prevent the idealized danger like violent extremism.

Approach

The targeted youth 13-16 years of age, both male and female were reached via secondary schools and madrasas through direct orientation by the trained teachers. In partnership with Democracy International (DI), Dnet implemented the project in total 15 schools of Dhaka and Lalmonirhat. In phase 1, total 75 teachers were trained, 386 parents were aware through awareness sessions and 362 students were well informed through knowledge campaign about mental wellbeing. In phase 2, total 101 teachers were trained and 284 teachers were mentored for behavioral management and peaceful practice in school environment of the students through school visit in the project locations.

Objective

To establish networks of non-formal community-based adolescent girls clubs which are effective in reducing social and economic barriers in society. The core purpose of EDGE project is to enhance English proficiency, digital skills and awareness of social issues to build self-confidence for marginalized adolescent girls in Bangladesh. Also for developing participants knowledge of social enterprise, giving them the skills to be able to develop their own local social business ideas in the future and improving the leadership skills of a smaller group of peer leaders (PGLs) drawn from the same communities of adolescent girls.

Background

EDGE project is developed and powered by British Council to empower the young adolescent girls of local communities so that they could complete education avoiding early marriage and other social barriers and create earning opportunities for themselves. Dnet took the initiative to work with marginalized adolescents’ girls in order to capacitate them in English, Digital, and Social Awareness and Entrepreneurship skill. As a result they could make better life choices and contribute to society and economy independently. Also they could effectively participate and take leadership at all levels of decision making in economic and public life.

Approach

Dnet is implementing the project with adolescent girls who are aged 13-18 years through adolescent girls’ club establishment from five different regions of the country such as Manikganj, Lalmonirhat, Bagerhat, Patuakhali and Gazipur. The duration of the project is from October 2021 to December 2023. The pilot phase of the project is ongoing and based on online, and face to face delivery is soon to be started. In pilot phase total 5 clubs will be established, 10 Peer Group Leaders and 110 club members will be covered. In face to face delivery total 50 clubs will be established in the project areas and 100 Peer Group Leaders and 1100 club members will be covered.

Objective

In alignment with numerous UN Sustainable Development Goals, the project aims to empower women in remote rural areas with new skills, training, and a sustainable source of income. We also aspire to enable underprivileged Bangladeshi families to afford nutritious food intake on a regular basis through this project.

Background

The project - “Pushti Ambassador Partnership” started with the vision of creating employment opportunities mainly focusing on the “Women Entrepreneurship”. The project effectively began its journey on November 19th, 2018 and it will continue till June 30th, 2023, targeting the deployment of 600 trained Pushti Ambassadors (PA). The goal of the project is to develop opportunities for women empowerment and nutritional demand in order to improve the living standard of underprivileged communities in rural areas. The objective is to improve nutritional knowledge of rural people and promote healthy nutritional habits and practices.

Approach

The project, Pusti Ambassador Partnership, has two aspects to it. This project will provide employment opportunities for the younger generation as well as the opportunity to earn while sitting at home. Alongside, the services provided by the women entrepreneurs will allow the community to access knowledge about nutrition, which will in turn fulfill the nutritional demands. The project started in collaboration with BoPinc, Dnet, iSocial, BRAC, and Arla. The partnership is formed to implement the project activities effectively in order to achieve the project’s goals.

In order to achieve the goal of Pusti Ambassador Partnership, we have developed strategies mentioned below:

• Selection and Training: Dnet & iSocial will provide 80 training sessions on health and nutrition to the female trainees. After completing the training successfully, the trainees will become eligible for being Pushti Ambassador.
• Creating an Efficient Supply Chain: iSocial will establish hubs and centers to support the physical distribution of products with support from Arla's distribution expertise;
• Products and Behavioral Change: Arla will support and supply the distribution hubs with Dano Daily Pushti (“DDP” – Arla's affordable and nutritious milk powder for low-income consumers) products and advocate for better nutrition in their campaigns. And BoPInc, in collaboration with Partners, will design behavioral change campaigns that will be executed within the networks of the recruited women entrepreneurs;
• Basket Innovation: BoPInc will facilitate the analysis of the basket (the portfolio of products the micro-entrepreneurs sell) and recommend adjustments, Arla will introduce additional products in the basket.