A high-level delegation from HealthBridge Foundation of Canada paid a courtesy visit to Dr. Shahadat Hossain, Administrator of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC). The courtesy meeting took place on 8 November 2026 at the Chattogram City Corporation office. Accompanying the delegation were representatives of the lead implementing organization, the Bangladesh Association for Prevention of Septic Abortion (BAPSA), and its partner organizations, YPSA and MAMATA.
The HealthBridge Foundation of Canada delegation is in Chattogram as part of its visit to Bangladesh. The main purposes of the visit are to observe the project’s field-level activities first-hand, exchange views with project implementers, review Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) activities, and organize and conduct a workshop to set priorities and plan activities for the project’s third year (Year Three).
Senior officials from Chattogram City Corporation, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP), the Office of the Civil Surgeon of Chattogram, and other relevant government offices took part in the courtesy meeting. Representatives of development partners and project implementing organizations were also present.
The HealthBridge Foundation of Canada delegation included Sian Fitzgerald, Executive Director; Behnoush Ahranjani, Nutrition Advisor and Evaluation Specialist; Kamilla Pinter, Project Manager; and Jennine Richard, Office Manager. Also present were Dr. Altaf Hossain, Executive Director of BAPSA; Nabil Ashraf Ali, Advisor; Shamima Chowdhury, Program Team Leader; and senior representatives of YPSA and MAMATA.
During the discussion, Dr. Shahadat Hossain, Administrator of Chattogram City Corporation, highly praised the various activities carried out by BAPSA, YPSA and MAMATA under the HSR for improved SRHR in Bangladesh project. He expressed heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the organizations for their sincerity, dedication and sustained efforts in delivering essential healthcare to vulnerable, marginalized and underserved communities in different areas of the City Corporation.
He noted that such initiatives are extremely important for meeting the health needs of the city’s underserved communities, raising awareness of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), ensuring healthcare for adolescents, and expanding access to quality healthcare. The contribution of the organizations concerned is commendable, particularly in community-based awareness activities, engaging adolescents and youth, and establishing effective links between communities and healthcare facilities.
He further said that, to ensure inclusive, accessible and quality healthcare for city residents, integrated initiatives and mutual cooperation among Chattogram City Corporation, relevant government departments, development partners and implementing organizations must continue. On this occasion, he offered special thanks to HealthBridge Foundation of Canada, BAPSA, YPSA and MAMATA for their continued cooperation, sincere efforts and public-welfare activities.
Participants stressed the integrated role of government institutions, development partners and implementing organizations in strengthening the capacity and resilience of the health system and increasing the availability of quality sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services. They also exchanged views on taking effective initiatives at the community, healthcare facility and policy levels, improving existing healthcare services, increasing the participation of marginalized communities, and building a sustainable urban health system.
It is noted that this courtesy visit to the Administrator of Chattogram City Corporation was a special gesture of institutional respect toward local administration. At the same time, the visit will play an important role in further strengthening relationships, coordination and cooperation among the institutions concerned to improve public health in the city and ensure quality healthcare for underserved communities.
Through the collective partnership and effective cooperation of government institutions, development partners and implementing organizations, the activities of the HSR-SRHR project continue with the aim of ensuring better, more inclusive and sustainable healthcare for underserved communities in Chattogram. Afterwards, the HealthBridge delegation met all partners at the project office and reviewed finance, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) activities with the project implementing partners.
The regional project “Health System Resiliency for Improved Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Bangladesh, Nepal and Vietnam” is being implemented in Bangladesh, Nepal and Vietnam. In Bangladesh, the project is implemented by MAMATA and Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) in collaboration with the Bangladesh Association for Prevention of Septic Abortion (BAPSA). The project is supported by HealthBridge Foundation of Canada and funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
The main goal of the project is to strengthen the capacity and resilience of the health system through integrated initiatives at the community, healthcare facility and policy levels. At the same time, it aims to contribute to expanding access to equitable, inclusive and quality sexual and reproductive health and rights services for women, adolescents, youth, and especially vulnerable and underserved communities.
