Speakers at a roundtable discussion on Monday said despite Bangladesh’s progress in reducing maternal mortality over recent years, challenges remain, especially in rural and underserved communities where approximately 60% of women face limited access to skilled healthcare providers.

High maternal mortality rates underscore the urgent need to bridge the gaps in maternal healthcare by exploring scalable, digital solutions, they said.

United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Bangladesh hosted the 13th episode of "SDG Café," a monthly roundtable discussion series dedicated to addressing critical development issues and fostering innovative solutions for Bangladesh. It was held at the UNOPS Bangladesh Office, Dhaka.

As part of UNOPS’ commitment to get Agenda 2030 back on track, this episode places the spotlight on Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3): dedicated to Good Health and Well-Being and specifically supports Target 3.1, which aims to reduce global maternal mortality ratio to below 70 per 100,000 live births.

By encouraging digital health innovation, this initiative also supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), promoting accessible, high-quality healthcare through technology. This roundtable was held on 4 November 2024 with the theme, “Transforming Maternal Health: Potential Role of Digital Tools in Bangladesh.”

The rapid digital transformation in Bangladesh presents a valuable opportunity to use mobile and internet-based tools to improve maternal health access, data management, and timely medical intervention.

The event featured a keynote address by Dr Shams El Arifeen, a distinguished public health expert at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b).

As a senior director of the Maternal and Child Health Division, Dr Arifeen has significantly contributed to maternal, newborn, and child health, particularly in resource-limited settings.

In his keynote, Dr Arifeen emphasised the potential of digital tools to overcome the geographical and socio-economic barriers that limit maternal health access in rural areas.

UNOPS Bangladesh Country Manager, Sudhir Muralidharan, emphasised the importance of digital solutions in strengthening healthcare systems and addressing maternal health gaps.

He highlighted UNOPS’ dedication to utilising innovative solutions to support maternal health as part of its mission to advance the SDGs in Bangladesh.

The discussion centred on the following key objectives: Enhancing Accessibility to Maternal Health Services: Exploring digital platforms for remote consultations and guidance for expectant mothers, particularly in underserved communities; Promoting Preventive Health and Awareness: Utilising mobile applications to disseminate maternal health information, ensuring consistent prenatal and postnatal care and; Strengthening Data Collection and Monitoring: Leveraging electronic health records for accurate data and insights, supporting data-driven decisions in public health policy.

This SDG Café brought together representatives from various sectors, including the Government of Bangladesh, UN agencies, development partners, national and international NGOs, academic institutions, and private sector stakeholders.

The discussion underscored the importance of a collaborative approach to enhance maternal health services and make healthcare more inclusive and accessible through digital means.

As the session concluded, participants expressed optimism about the potential of digital tools to bring impactful change in maternal health services, contributing to Bangladesh's SDG targets.

UNOPS reaffirmed its commitment to promoting sustainable health solutions through strategic partnerships and digital innovation, empowering communities and improving health outcomes for mothers across Bangladesh.