DGFP organized a Laptop Distribution Ceremony among the eMIS Implementing Districts and Upazilas on 1 Aug 2019. Quazi A. K. M. Mohiul Islam, Additional Secretary and Director General, Directorate General of Family Planning was present as the Chief Guest. Monoj Kumar Roy, Joint Secretary, MEFWD and Director (MIS), DGFP was in the chair. All Directors and Line Directors of DGFP, Director, Dhaka Division, and Deputy Directors of Family Planning (DDFP) or their representatives from eMIS districts were present in the ceremony. Besides, other officials of DGFP and representatives of MEASURE Evaluation, icddr,b and MaMoni MNCSP attended the event.
Welcome Speech
The program began with a welcome speech from Monoj Kumar Roy, Director (MIS). He highlighted the digital developments in the DGFP and described how the DGFP was going ahead with the eMIS implementation process, while maintaining that eMIS tools would be scaled up in all the districts gradually. He informed that USAID-supported MEASURE Evaluation/icddr,b have provided some laptops, which would be used for managing eMIS and DHIS2 from upazila, district and central level.
PowerPoint Presentation on eMIS
It was followed with a PowerPoint presentation on eMIS, made by Naser Uddin Howlader, Deputy Program Manager (MIS-OP). The title of the presentation was “eMIS Initiative of Directorate General of Family Planning.” He dwelt on the history of eMIS with initial phases starting from 2012, which looked at streamlining paper forms and data collection. He elaborated that eMIS architecture can be interpreted in three layers: eRegister for the field workers, eSupervision systems for supervisors and web-based monitoring tools for managers and decision makers. Pilot implementation in Tangail and Habiganj districts led to the decision for scaling up the tools. This was formalized in presence of the Honorable Minister for Health and Family Planning on 11 October 2017 in a launching ceremony. He also provided summary statistics and the extent of coverage in 27 districts. MEASURE Evaluation/icddr,b has covered 15 districts and MaMoni MNCSP 10 districts, which are now at varying stage of implementation. DGFP has managed implementation in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts from June 2019 and would take up more districts in the current financial year. Current expansion plan includes 22 districts, 12 of which would be new and the remaining 10 would be taken up to complete coverage as support of the implementing partners of USAID was partial in those districts.
Implementation in Tangail
History of implementation in Tangail was included in the agenda of the meeting. Luthful Kibria, DDFP, Tangail narrated the history of implementation of eMIS in Tangail. He mentioned that two pilot districts were selected in March 2015 and started with data collection work using population registration system. On the basis of successful results, tools were expanded to remaining 11 upazilas of Tangail. All managers, supervisors and field workers are using apps or web based solutions. He explained that all types of MIS forms could be generated though eMIS. The FWAs and FPIs are able to submit their workplan or advance tour program. The tools are linked between FWA-FWV and SACMO. There are some challenges as well such as, high level of vacancies at the level of FWAs and FPIs. He mentioned that Tangail was ready to go fully paperless. Click here for further details.
Observation by Guest of Honor
Md. Humayun Kabir, Senior Strategic and Technical Advisor, MEASURE Evaluation was present as Guest of Honor. He mentioned that the eMIS implementing partners were looking forward to work under the able leadership of the new DG. He also highlighted the support provided by USAID for eMIS through multiple implementing partners. He also dealt with sustainability issues.
Distribution of laptops
The DG, DGFP then distributed 120 laptops to the district managers or their representatives and MIS wing. The districts are: Tangail, Natore, Madaripur, Jhenaidah, Moulvibazar, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon and Cox’s Bazar. Please click here to view a photo story.
Speech by the Chief Guest
Quazi A. K. M. Mohiul Islam, Additional Secretary to the Government and Director General, DGFP in the speech of Chief Guest mentioned that technologically Bangladesh has moved forward tremendously. The officers should use technology as much as possible and align with the national objectives. He highlighted the work done under eMIS and especially in generation of huge amount of population level data, which probably has no match in any other organizations in Bangladesh. Such data could be used for improvement of the health of mother and children including reproductive health of women. He underscored that DGFP is striving to play its part in reduction of rate of maternal mortality, child mortality as well as improvement in adolescent health. Modern organizations need to be data-driven and generate quality data. He also emphasized the role of effective communication. The district managers are responsible for the district and should monitor effectively to achieve the targets set nationally. He mentioned that Government of Bangladesh is committed to achieve the SDG goals and the DGFP must play its due role in achieving them.
Concluding speech by the chair
The Director (MIS) concluded the meeting with a vote of thanks to all the participants. He especially thanked the DG, DGFP for agreeing to be present in the event in spite of his busy schedule. He reiterated that under the leadership of the DG, DGFP digitalization would take a firm hold in the DGFP and the DGFP would become a data-driven organization and take evidence-based decisions.
After conclusion of the ceremony, the 3rd meeting of the Implementation Committee was held. This would be covered in a separate blog later.
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