About Project

About Project

BMS is the professional association for midwives in the country registered by the Department of women’s affairs, Bangladesh. There are 5,893 members of BMS across the country.  BMS supports the rights of women to access safe, respectful maternity care. BMS is supported by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and UNFPA Bangladesh. From June 2017 to December 2022, BMS has been implementing a twinning project with Royal College of Midwives (RCM) UK and from January 2023 BMS has started implementing a project titled “Strengthening BMS” with International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), which will continue for four years. 

Networking and Stakeholder engagements:

 

Stakeholder liaison including women’s groups: 

BMS engaged with key midwifery stakeholders including UNFPA, DGNM, DGHS, BNA, BNMC, BRAC, icddr,b, TMSS, CRPRB and the National Gender Working Group (NGWG).  BMS executives and staff also liaised with key women’s organisations including IPAS, Naripokkho and Women Windows, and BINDU.  This ensured that BMS was representing midwives on relevant national issues.  Representatives from DGNM, UNFPA, RHStep, SMC and Nariphokko are now on BMS’ Advisory Committee. All relevant stakeholders and the advisory committee members participated in the Annual general Meeting of 9 December 2023.  

 

Forum representation: BMS representatives were present in CSO forum meetings focusing on strengthening sustainable SRHR ecosystem in Bangladesh, National Gender Working Group focusing on Gender transformation approaches and Feminist Network Bangladesh focusing on eliminate of negative approaches for feminism and creating awareness.

 

Stakeholder meeting:

BMS organized a stakeholder’s meeting on 2-Dec-2023 at the Omni Residency Hotel, Banani. Target stakeholders were with whom BMS did not had previous connection and who may have Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) or other funds to support BMS for future collaboration. 35 stakeholders confirmed but only 18 were present in the program. Many of them said due to, it was Saturdays are their weekend they want to spend their time with family. However, although the participants were not as much as expected, they were fully engaged all through the program and there were discussions and debates. Many of them raised their concerns of unnecessary and expensive c-sections. Some stakeholders showed their interests and committed to invite BMS team to their programs so that more awareness can be developed around midwives’ roles and responsibilities.

Representatives from 14 organizations were present they are:

·        UN agencies: UNOPS, UNFPA,

·        INGOs: Action Aid, World Fish, GIZ, BNGWG forum

·        University: World University Bangladesh (WUB)

·        NGO: IFDC (USAID project), Chowdhury Foundation, Leprosy Mission,

·        Pharmaceutical company: UniHealth,

·        Telecommunication: Banglalink,

·        Two-wheeler manufacturer: Bangladesh Honda Private Limited,

·        Boutique Hotel: Marino

·        Medical equipment supplier: Anifco Healthcare

IDM 2023: 

IDM is a key strategic event for BMS, and BMS with close collaboration with Dhaka Nursing College (DNC) organized a rally on 5 May 2023. With the theme: “Together again: from Evidence to reality. Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery (DGNM) with support from UNFPA, Dhaka Nursing College, Bangladesh Midwifery Society (BMS) and other important stakeholders organized a rally with 500 participants. The rally went from Dhaka Nursing College to Press Club. Director General of DGNM, Registrar, BNMC and representatives from UNPFA, principals and students of Nursing and midwifery institutions and BMS were present in the rally. BMS sponsored a cake to celebrate the day. 

On 8-June-2023 DGNM organized a joint programme between nurses and midwives held at the Osmani memorial auditorium. BMS   organized a midwifery stall at the event. The event was aimed at enhancing collaboration of relevant stakeholders for midwives and nurses. A key note paper on midwifery progress in Bangladesh. The Chief guest in the program was Mr. Zahid Maleque, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

 

IDM media coverage: On the occasion of IDM, TV scrolling news with a greeting message for the midwives telecasted in Bangla vision television (the message was telecasted every 10 minutes for 24 hours). Jugantor and Janakantha published covered news from B

 

Safe Motherhood Day 2023:

BMS celebrated Safe motherhood day in a small scale at its office as part of the advocacy workplan developed in 2022 with support of ICM. The event provided an opportunity for the newly formed advisory committee to meet and discussed on the advocacy plan related to advocacy of for midwifery in Bangladesh and reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality. Among participants of the meeting were: Momtaz Begum, Assistant Director, DGNM, Merry Chowdhury, UNFPA, Samia Afrin, Project Director, Naripokkho, Dr. Sabbir Ahmen, Deputy Manager, SMC, Dr. Julekha, RHSTEP and Shakila Matin Mridula, Consultant (research), refugee and migratory movements research unit (RMMRU) and freelance media activist/worker.

Media coverage: 

Round table discussion meeting:

BMS with support of ICM had organized a SMART advocacy workshop in September 2023 and based on the findings of the workshop BMS organized a round table discussion on Saturday, 25 November, 2023 with media represen tatives at the Nasrul Hamid Auditorium, Dhaka Reporters Unity, Segun Bagicha Rd, Dhaka 1205. Two television channels Bangla vision and Channel 24 and 9 news media (Ittefaq, Kalerkontho, RTV online, Dainik Bangla, Khoborpotro, Spashtabadi, the morning news, public reaction BD) covered the news. Veteran Television anchor Ferdous Bappy, who is a CEO of Ferdous Bappy production house and Konna was present in the program to inspire midwives. Giitoshree Ghosh former deputy registrar, BNMC, Dr. Selina Amin: team leader from ProNurse, Dr Sharmina from BRAC university were also present at the event. Ferdous Bappy later invited BMS team to his office and offered a joint collaboration of work where BMS’s member midwives can provide support to adolescent girls in all 64 districts through the Kanna foundation.

 

All together all through the year 17 media covered news on BMS activities.

Annual General Meeting:

BMS organized Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 09 December 2023 at BRAC Learning Center, Hajj Camp, Uttara, Dhaka-1230, where the Director General of Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery (DGNM) was present as a Chief guest. Representatives from UNFPA, BRAC, Save the Children etc. were present in the program. 67 general members registered for the program. The first part of the program included presentations by BMS on activities and finance report, followed by a question-and-answer session.  The second half of the day was a cultural program where students and midwives had the opportunity to showcase their talents. There was total 117 participants (BMS team 16, Divisional committee members 15, stakeholder 8, YML 8, GM -70, total – 117 participants).

SMART advocacy Workshop follow up: 

ICM Advocacy Lead (Faridah) held a number of online meetings with BMS advocacy committee members to follow up progress on advocacy workplan which will be developed in December 2023. She along with the advocacy committee will develop an advocacy workplan in December 2023 in line with advocacy objectives. 

YML program:

10 Young Midwife Leaders started their one-year programme with BMS in August 2023. YMLs based in Dhaka participated in the round table discussion.  They regularly attend online training sessions support BMS to call expired members, organize programs and implement activities. They have received trainings on the following 13 topics: e Leadership development, Leadership theories, Teamwork, Professionalism, Midwifery programs in UK and Cambodia, Family planning strategy in refugee camps, Advocacy in light of YML program of ICM, building personal resilience, Basic computers – word excel, power point, financial management and policy, midwifery programs experiences in UK, Cambodia, Denmark etc. 

Midwives’ role in prevention of Hepatitis B virus:

National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh organized a workshop on Midwives role in the prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of Hepatitis B virus. Midwives play a crucial role on prevention of mother to child transmission of hepatitis B virus as they are direct caregivers of pregnant women and are therefore expected to convey the message on importance of Hepatitis B testing during pregnancy and advise or ensure administration of vaccine of the neonate & immunoglobulin (as needed) within 24 hours after birth. The honorable Chief Guest at the workshop was Prof.  Dr. MD Nazmul Islam, Director, Communicable Disease Control, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The special guest was Anna af Ugglas, Consultant ICM and Faridah Luyiga, Advocacy lead of ICM on 15-Sep-2023.

Training for general members:

An offer went out for general members to renew for 3 years with an opportunity to do training. 42 general members of BMS enrolled in Quarter 3 and 50 in quarter 4 to avail themselves of the offer. They were pleased to get an opportunity to do an online training on accountability and transparency. BMS organized the training on 28-Sep-2023 and 28-Dec-2023 was facilitated by an official of DGNM.

Visit of Martha Bokosi of ICM:

A team from ICM– Shree Mandke, Head of Programmes and Partnerships, Faridah Luyiga Mwanje, Advocacy Lead, ICM and Anna af Ugglas, ICM Consultant, visited Bangladesh from 9 Sep to 15 Sep 2023. During the visit they stayed in the Lake castle hotel Gulshan. The team visited stakeholders, Upazila Health Complex, Union Sub Cener, Institute and conducted a training on leadership and governance and SMART advocacy as reported above.

 

Visit of Martha Bokosi of ICM:

ICM’s project coordinator Martha Bokosi visited Bangladesh from 02-10 December, 2023. During her visit she met with UNFPA, DGNM, BNMC, BRAC and Bangladesh Health watch. She also had chance to visit Faridpur Nursing and midwifery College where she met with the faculty and students, Kanaypur Sub center and Boalmari Upazilla Health Complex. During her visit she    a meeting with the executive committee members on 8-Dec-2023 and on 9-Dec-2023 attended the Annual General Meeting (AGM). During the visit she also had chance to work with the Project manager on various developing draft project workplan for 2024.

Divisional program:

Total 756 participants in 8 divisional programs of BMS on refreshed trainings of evidence based practices and 581 members enrolled 

 

Challenges:

•        No permanent office

•        Renew members

•        Increase midwife members

•        Quality education and clinical practice

•        Separate Faculty

•        Recognition

•        Recruitment

•        Internship allowances

 

 

Opportunities:

•        Regular election

•        Decentralized working system

•        Participatory decision making

•        National and international support

•        Media support

•        Funding opportunities

•        Increase in members

•        SMART advocacy- Recruit more midwives, SOP orientation, clinical mentors for student midwives clinical skill development

 

Future plan:

•        Independent election committee formation

•        Secretariate

•        Sustain BMS with fund raising

•        Extended project of NNCF

•        Create positions for midwives in the private hospitals

•        Advocate for creating post positions for midwives in the government sector

•        Advocacy according to the advocacy workplan

•        Extend the network further

•        Permanent office

 Twinning Project:

BMS was twinned with Royal College of Midwives (RCM) UK from 2017 to 2022. The twinning project project is funded by UNFPA. The objectives of the project are: 

• Strengthen BMS

• Advocate for the midwifery profession

• Create demand for midwifery services

• Founders were pioneers
• Led by nurses – no midwives or space for midwives’ voices
• Few paid members; no membership systems or benefits
• Constitution out of date
• No BMS staff or policies
• No link with private sector
• Limited stakeholders
• No midwife leaders
• MACAT Score 29% (1/7)

Planned Outcome:

• Increase in BMS’ organizational capacity
• Young Midwife Leader Development
• Digital innovation for member solutions
• BMS will be active in advocacy
• Increased emergency response capability

• Baseline needs assessment (2017) and yearly monitoring with ICM MACAT. 
• Strategic planning 
• Implementation of capacity building activities through BMS board and young midwife leaders with support from UK volunteer midwives (10) and RCM staff/consultants
• Governance re-structure (constitution, board, policies, staff)
• Digital transformation
  

• MACAT score 57% (5/7)
• Paid members: 2,226
• E-elections 2018 and 2021. >50% voted.  
• Midwives had a voice.
• BMS board all midwives; President is a midwife
• 50 Young Midwife Leaders Developed
• 5 midwives enrolled in international YML programs
• Midwives in national and international leadership positions
• Digital access for all members to BMS and e-learning

Digital Solutions for BMS:

• Website bmsone.com with embedded functions:
• Cloud-based member database with reporting system and API system
• E-voting facility
• E-learning platform with 83 modules (additional 170 modules via App)
• bKash (mobile money) membership fee payment
• Digital helpline for members
• Telephone helpline for mothers and midwives
• Zoom, Skype and Messenger for meetings /communications
• Survey Monkey for collecting advocacy data (2 surveys)
• Increasing access to tablets, smart phones, laptops (more is still needed)

Conclusion:

• Digital innovation in Bangladesh, as part of a twinning project, has transformed BMS and enabled midwives’ voices to be heard.
• Evaluation during 2022 
• Planning for sustainability
• Assimilating and disseminating lessons learned for BMS and RCM