In Bangladesh, girls and women are particularly vulnerable: many are married off at an early age and have very limited access to education and healthcare. Teenage pregnancies are common and can have life-threatening consequences. That is why are committed to strengthen women’s self-determination and improve access to health services.
The country ranks in the lower-middle range of both the Human Development Index and the Gender Inequality Index (131st and 125th out of 193 countries, respectively). With around 1,350 people per square kilometre, it is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
Rural areas in particular suffer from a weak healthcare infrastructure. As a nationwide average, there are just seven doctors for every 10,000 people. Maternal mortality is 23 times higher than in Switzerland.
Bangladesh is characterised by extreme social inequality. In rural areas in particular, many people live in poverty, limiting their access to health services and leading families to marry their children off at an early age.
We have been active in Bangladesh since 2011. Today, we support four projects focused on reducing maternal mortality, preventing child marriage, and preventing and treating birth injuries.
In rural areas of Bangladesh, many women give birth without medical assistance, often with life-threatening consequences. In the northwest of the country, we support midwifery training and help young women from low-income families train for a meaningful profession.
Child marriage is one of the gravest forms of gender-based violence. In Bangladesh, rates are rising again, with devastating consequences: girls lose control over their lives, drop out of school and risk their health through early pregnancy. Our project supports girls in taking control of their lives and promotes wider social change.
Complicated births and unsuccessful abdominal surgery leave many women in Bangladesh with fistulas. Our project supports them with medical care, information and income-generating opportunities – helping them reclaim their dignity and self-determination.
Many women in Bangladesh still give birth without medical assistance, considerably increasing their risk of developing an obstetric fistula. Our project combines prevention, individualised and holistic support for fistula survivors, and targeted efforts to strengthen local health services.
Programme Manager, Bangladesh
