Community Clinics were established to make healthcare accessible at the community level, bringing essential services directly to people’s neighborhoods. Besides clinical services, these clinics play a vital role in educating residents on health, hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention. Leading this effort is the Community Health Care Provider (CHCP), who regularly organizes meetings with the Community Group (CG) to discuss health matters and promote clinic services.
Since the PPEPP-EU primary healthcare initiative launched, gaps in the consistency of these community meetings were identified. Initially, low participation in clinics resulted in many residents turning to local village doctors and pharmacies instead, leading to increased antibiotic use and higher out-of-pocket expenses. Irregular meetings and CHCP availability further fueled this trend.
To address these challenges, the PPEPP-EU project’s Community Mobilization (CM) team has intensified efforts to revitalize Community Group meetings in community clinics. Through the support of SHARP, a PPEPP-EU partner, 17 community clinics in Dimla and Jaldhaka Upazilas of Nilphamari District have resumed regular meetings. The project introduced 17 members to the Community Group committees in these clinics, alongside 13 adolescent representatives from the Social Development Centre (Kishori), creating an active and engaged community network.
In Baraikhali, Bagerhat, for instance, the Kashmir Community Clinic faced a service gap when the CHCP left. Community Group meetings were halted, leaving residents without access to local healthcare. When CODEC, another PPEPP-EU partner, notified the Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer (UHFPO), swift action followed, with a new CHCP appointed and Community Group meetings resumed. The new CHCP recognized the project’s support, noting how information materials distributed through the project encouraged residents to utilize clinic services.
Selina Begum, a member of the PPEPP-EU project, shared, “With our community clinic closed and limited transportation options, reaching healthcare was difficult and medicine costs were high. Thanks to CODEC’s efforts, our clinic has reopened, providing free medicines close to home.”
Nationwide, the Ministry of Health reports around 14,000 operational community clinics, each offering about 27 types of free medicines. Across all PPEPP-EU project areas, partners like SHARP and CODEC are working to revitalize Community Group meetings, increasing clinic visits among marginalized and underprivileged individuals for basic healthcare, medicines, and counseling. These clinics have become essential in residents’ lives, fostering a sense of community ownership and active involvement in supporting and promoting clinic services.