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Eyi Medh Eyi Roudro - Bangladesh

Country

Bangladesh

Region

South Asia

Programme Summary

With the message "Come with your family for health care," this television series was developed to create more interest in and awareness about health and family planning services. The aim of Eyi Medh Eyi Roudro ("Now Cloud, Now Sunshine") was to encourage Bangladesh people to take advantage of available health services like the Essential Services Package (ESP) that are provided by these clinics as well as to instill the habit of visiting health services clinics.

Communication Strategies

Written and directed by renowned playwright Humayun Ahmed, this 26-episode TV drama featured many popular performers and revolved around stories in both urban and rural areas. The drama highlighted health care facilities and centered on the common people of various villages, focusing on their health, happiness, and hopes for the future. Each character in the drama represented a distinct philosophy of life that impacted his or her attitude toward health and health services. For example, Shawkat, a young character, lived a relaxed life and did whatever he liked. Shawkat's father, Mr. Chowdhury, was also a whimsical man. After retirement, he spent time in his village home, empathising with the grief of the village people and taking steps to help them. Among the other characters of Shuvopur village were the flute player Rafik, who thought he could conjure up fairies on a full moon night by playing his flute; the wife of the flute player, Mariom, who represented the village woman; the paramedic who dispensed heath advice to villagers; and the dancer Juthi. The latter character fled from the theater group to pursue a better life, moving to Dhaka and becoming involved with a health centre that provided health services to the Bangladesh people.

The drama centered around the personal lives of these characters, yet included a distinct call for action from local health care centres. Each episode of the series was 30 minutes long and included Health Talk for the viewers, a segment focusing on health topics including breast feeding, diarrhea, Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI), child vaccination, vitamin A, polio, nutrition, pregnant mothers' health, antenatal care, and postnatal care. These topics were addressed in the drama and also discussed in Health Talk. Moreover, Health Talk featured quizzes to stimulate reflection among viewers; they were then awarded prizes and gifts by the performers.

Development Issues

Health Care, Family Planning, Women, Nutrition.

Key Points

This series encouraged people to visit clinics marked by either Green Umbrella or Smiling Sun logos for all family health services. The Green Umbrella is used by all Bangladesh clinics - government, non-government, and private - to symbolise integrated services. The more recent Smiling Sun logo designates non-government organisation (NGO) clinics, which are in the process of upgrading their quality of services.

Partners

The National Integrated Population & Health Program (NIPHP); the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Government of Bangladesh; United States Agency for International Development (USAID); Asiatic Social (as per its contract with Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs (BCCP)); and Johns Hopkins University/Center for Communication Programs Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs (BCCP).

Contact

Mohammad Shahjahan
Director & CEO
House 64A, Road 8A (New), P.O. Box 5144, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka - 1209, Bangladesh
Tel: (880-2) 8117596-7, 9115487
Fax: (880-2) 8113443
E-mail: bccp@citechco.net

E n la Iniciativa de Comunicación desde 04/10/2002

Placed on the Communication Initiative site February 15 2002
Last Updated October 11 2007

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