From 13th to 15th February, a National Workshop on "Community Initiatives for Sustainable Reproductive Health Programs" was held in Comilla, Bangladesh. Around 40 people concerned with the Community Operated Reproductive Health Project (CORHP) under the JICA Partnership Program of the Family Planning Association of Bangladesh (FPAB) attended. The chief guest was Takuya Sugawara, Deputy Resident Representative, JICA Bangladesh Office.

The workshop aimed to review project activities for 2004, develop strategies for sustainable RH programs through community initiatives, undertake initiatives for local resource mobilization for the sustainability of the project, and to develop the future Action Plan.

JOICFP message

On behalf of JOICFP, Ryoichi Suzuki, Deputy Executive Director, sent a message to the workshop, thanking everyone for the contribution they had made to the project, especially FPAB. Suzuki also extended praise to the community people, emphasizing his vision of "No mothers deaths, no babies deaths, and no unwanted pregnancy."

The project is being transferred from JICA to community ownership in April 2005, and Suzuki reminded the workshop participants that establishing real community ownership was now a challenge to be faced. He said this could be best addressed by encouraging women and empowering them as the center of the community. He finished by wishing them all success for the sustainability of the project.