Luxmi Kanu (19), a resident of South Line, Karimpur Tea Garden, Rajnagar Upazila, Moulvibazar District. Luxmi's husband Shankar Kanu is a casual tea worker. They live from hands to mouth. They have married a year ago. A few days after the marriage, Luxmi Kanu became pregnant for the first time. Her husband was happy to know that. Meanwhile, Luxmi met Rina Rajak, a Bagan Sebika (volunteer) of the project, and shared the news. Rina Rajak recorded her name in her pregnancy register and gave initial counseling. She advised her to attend the courtyard meeting with pregnant mothers next week in that garden.
Then Luxmi attended the courtyard meeting. The FPI of that union facilitated the meeting using the festoon. The importance of ANC for pregnant women, danger sign during pregnancy, birth planning, nutrition issues were discussed in that courtyard session. Luxmi attended five more meetings in her garden. She received 4 ANC from the midwife of the garden hospital and UHFWC with the help of Bagan Sebika. Luxmi decided that she would deliver her first baby to the district hospital under a midwife. Her family members were not agreed rather wanted to conduct delivery at home as per their tradition. Luxmi tried to motivate them with the help of Bagan Sebika. But they were afraid to go to the district facility as they did not go earlier.
When Luxmi’s labor pain started, her husband called Bagan Sebika for help. As per the advice, Shankar took her to the district hospital. The project coordinator communicated and managed the transportation facility from the tea garden to the district hospital.
The project team assisted them with all kinds of support from admission to discharge. After admission, the baby was delivered normally with the assistant of the midwife at the Hospital. Both mother and newborn returned home safely. Laxmi Kanu, her husband, and their family members express gratitude to the field workers of UN joint SDG programme for guiding and supporting them at the safe motherhood journey.
About the programme:
‘Enhancing social protection for female tea garden workers and their family members is a joint programme of ILO, UNICIEF, UNFPA, UN Women. The join programme is funded by Joint SDG Fund and coordinated by UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Bangladesh. Through this intervention in Sylhet division, female tea garden workers, their family members will be more empowered to claim their rights to avail the social procreation services. Besides creating opportunities for female workers in the decision-making process of trade union this joint initiative will contribute to ensuring a decent work environment, maternal health care, and child education-health-nutrition.
