July 21, 2019 – Eight members team from Kyushu University, Japan has recently visited Bangladesh under Mother and Child Healthcare (MCH) program, a new module of Portable Health Clinic (PHC) in GramHealth service. The field research conducted during June 26- July 1, 2019 covering both rural (Chhaygaon union of Shariatpur district) and urban (Dhaka) areas. The objective of the visit was to provide healthcare services to 363 previously surveyed female participants with a special focus on pregnant women in Chhaygaon, Shariatpur. GramHealth team organized a 4-days long health campaign to provide this healthcare service. The team consisted of Dr. Naoki Nakashima (Professor, Kyushu University), Dr. Rafiqul Islam Maruf (Associate Professor, Medical Information Center, Kyushu University Hospital), Dr. Mariko Nishikitani (Associate Professor, Kyushu University), Dr. Kimiyo Kikuchi (Lecturer, Institute of Decision Science for a Sustainable Society (IDS3), Kyushu University), Dr. Fumihiko Yokota (Lecturer, Kyushu University), Dr. Yasunobu Nohara (Associate Professor, Kyushu Univeristy), Dr. Rieko Izukura (Assistant Professor, Medical Information Center, Kyushu University) and Dr. Yoko Sato (Associate Professor, Kyushu University. The team was assisted by Global Communication Center (GCC).

During their visit, on first day, they had a meeting session with Ms. Nazneen Sultana, Managing Director of Grameen Communications and MCH support team of GCC and had a brief discussion about MCH activities. They also had a meeting with Ms. Niru Shamsun Nahar, Principal of Grameen Caledonian College of Nursing followed by a brief exploration of nursing college. On second day, they moved to Chhaygaon, Shariatpur to observe and experience the overall health campaign activities organized and provided by GramHealth team to previously surveyed women.

On last day of the visit, they visited icddr,b, a renowned international health research institute based in Dhaka, Bangladesh and met Dr. Tahmeed Ahmed, Senior Director of icddr,b and Dr. Mohammad Jobayer Chisti, Senior Scientist of icddr,b. Two distinct presentation session were held to give a brief overview of research activities of KU team and icddr,b team. Later on, they visited icddr,b hospital and observe the healthcare and nutrition facilities devoted for the patients.

According to the KU team members, it was a fruitful visit indeed in terms of field study purpose and they believe this visit would shed lights on the upcoming activities under this project.