The journey of SMC’s Blue Star Program began in June 1998 to increase utilization of public health services by improving its quality, awareness, accessibility and affordability through the community based private health providers. About 3,791 Blue Star Providers are currently working across the country under this program. SMC organized the First Regional Blue Star Workshop in May 2011 at Sylhet with the objective of sharing experiences, best practices and increasing motivation level of the providers to offer public health priority service under the program. Based on the positive experience of the Sylhet Workshop, SMC successfully organized the workshops in Chittagong, Comilla, Barisal and very recently at Bogra on December 19, 2012.

The Workshop was divided in inaugural, plenary and working session. A total of 274 Blue Star Providers under Bogra region along with local GoB and NGO officials attended the event. Mr. Sarwar Mahmud, Deputy Commissioner of Bogra was the Chief Guest while Dr. Md. Khalilur Rahman, Civil Surgeon of Bogra and Md. Abdus Sattar, Deputy Director of Family Planning of Bogra were the special guests of the event. The session was chaired by Mr.Toslim Uddin Khan, General Manager, Program, SMC. Mr. Dana Ward, Senior Technical Advisor of PSI also graced the occasion. Dr. Salah Uddin Ahmed, Manager, Training & Service Delivery, shared an overview of SMC’s Blue Star Program in this session.

A total of 15 Blue Star Providers from five districts under Bogra region were recognized for their best performance and honored with the crests by the Honorable Deputy Commissioner of Bogra. The criteria of consideration for the best performance were quality of services, record keeping and reporting, number of Injectable administration, TB referral performance, and referral cases of long acting and permanent methods to the nearest services delivery facilities.

Three presentations relating to programs were made to update knowledge of the Blue Star Providers and improving their services. Dr. Ashek Ahmed, Program Manager, Blue Star Network of SMC made a presentation on updates on Public Health issues in Bangladesh. He also shared the basic elements of Marketing Innovation for Health (MIH) program currently SMC is implementing with financial assistance from USAID in the Workshop. Dr. Shaikhul Islam Helal of EngenderHealth made a presentation on “LAPM: What Blue Star Providers can do?” while Dr. Arefin Amal Islam of SSFP made presentation on “SSFP activities in Bogra region and possible collaboration with the Blue Star Providers”.

Mr. Ataur Rahman of D-Net presented different aspects of MAMA program under D-Net for linking the pregnant mothers through Blue Star Providers for augmenting the awareness on information and access to services under maternal and child health. Besides, a number of Blue Star Providers shared their experiences, best practices and possible program interventions in the future Blue Star Program. The workshop was very instrumental in mutual learning, increasing the motivation of the Blue Star Providers which in turn would help increasing the overall program performance of this region. Furthermore, exposure of the providers to SSFP, Mayer Hashi and D-Net program will bring more synergy and strengthen collaboration in future.

The Bogra Area team of SMC, headed by Area Manager Mr. Quazi Md. Jafrullah, organized the workshop in conjunction with SMC Head Office. The workshop ended with a vote of thanks by Mr. Jafrullah.