Quazi A. K. M. Mohiul Islam, Additional Secretary and Director General, Directorate General of Family Planning together with Monoj Kuman Roy, Director (MIS), Sanaullah Nuri, Deputy Director (MIS) and Naser Uddin Howladar, Deputy Program Manager (MIS-OP) visited Tangail on 24 August 2019. Representatives of MEASURE Evaluation and icddr,b accompanied them. The visit comprised of two parts. During first leg of the visit, they reviewed field level work using eMIS tools. Later, they attended a meeting to exchange ideas on initiating paperless eMIS at Tangail. The local DGFP staff gave the visiting team a warm welcome when they reached Mirzapur. The Deputy Director, Family Planning (DDFP), Tangail, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Uapzila Family Planning Officer (UFPO) and Medical Officer, Maternal and Child Health (MO-MCH) were present. They led the visiting team to Mirzapur Sadar Family Welfare Center (FWC). The Sub-Assistant Community Medical Officers (SACMO), Family Planning Inspectors (FPI), Family Welfare Visitors (FWV) and Family Welfare Assistants (FWA) of the upazila were present. Representatives of Upazila Health Complex and Health Engineering Department also attended the meeting.
At the beginning of the tour, Luthful Kibria, DDFP, Tangail narrated how eMIS was introduced in Tangail in collaboration with MEASURE Evaluation/iccddr,b, supported by USAID. He mentioned that journey was long and had hopes as well as pains. There were also times when he felt frustrated. He expressed satisfaction with the current versions of the eRegisters and explained how they could implement paperless eMIS.
Presentation
Afterwards, Md. Shahidul Islam, UFPO, Mirzapur made a presentation with the title “Welcome to the Presentation on eMIS as Paperless FP Activities in Mirzapur, Tangail.” He mentioned how the FWAs were using the apps in the tablet PCs during home visits or performing other work using eMIS apps. The supervisors use eSupervision app. They approve workplan, review actionable items through notification page and monitor the activities of workers using monthly workplan. They also supervise using web based monitoring tools. He explained how the field workers were connected thorough Facebook group, how they were using eToolkit app, and how the district and upazila managers were maintaining contact with the field workers using digital tools. For faster communication they are using group email. They also have a web portal (which is a part of Bangladesh government web portal).
Demonstration of tools in use in the field
The DG, DGFP observed how the tools were used by the family planning workers in the field. He interacted with the field workers. He was briefed about the paper registers and how those are replicated in the app interface. He took keen interest in the advance workplan preparation. He enquired how and in what manner they submit the workplan with advance tour program and how the supervisors and managers use them. Sharif Mia, FPI demonstrated workplan and verification of works of FWAs from tab that helped to improve their performance.
Robiya Khatun, FWA demonstrated how the paper register and the apps that reside in the tab were similar. She also explained that report preparation from paper registers required lots of time and effort in the past. Now reports could be generated at the click of the button.
The DG also reviewed the apps that were used in the facilities. The SACMO and FWVs demonstrated their data capturing and reporting. They explained that they both use the same app, but they separately enter the system and records are also presented separately.
Finally, in his brief speech, the DG, DGFP assured the employees that they are working to improve the lot or mother and child. He urged the field workers,, their supervisors and managers to work hard so that people in the rural areas are benefited.
Afterwards, the visitors left for Tangail city for the second leg of the tour.
Please click a) to view a photo story on the event and b) blog on discussion meeting at Tangail.
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