Labour welfare is something need of the hour in apparel industry of Bangladesh. To undertake collaborative efforts to increase women’s health awareness and access to health services especially in the apparel sector, Engender Health Bangladesh (EHB) and HERproject of the BSR (Business for Social Responsibility) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The initiative has been taken to enhance access to improved family planning and reproductive health information and services for women working at apparel manufacturing units.
Read more about other– initiatives for the enhancement of workplace rights and industrial relations in Bangladesh
The EHB will provide technical assistance to the BSR’s HERhealth programme. Abu Jamil Faisel, Country Representative of EHB said, “Garment workers usually are of reproductive age. Their awareness about family planning services particularly long acting reversible contraceptive and permanent method (LARC&PM) uptake is very low.” EHB will provide support to HERhealth’s three local NGO partners-Change Associates and Awaj Foundation in Dhaka and Mamata in Chittagong-to strengthen HERhealth’s curriculum and awareness-raising activities on family planning services.
Chhavi Ghuliani ,Associate Director, HERproject said, “Women working in Bangladesh’s RMG sector face serious health risks related to a lack of access to reproductive health and family planning information and services. HERproject, which was launched in Bangladesh in 2010, has demonstrated that the workplace provides exceptional opportunities to improve this access.”
