In southwest Bangladesh, particularly in coastal districts like Bagerhat, communities face significant health challenges due to poverty, food insecurity, and limited healthcare infrastructure. Maternal and child mortality rates in these areas is approximately 20% higher than the national average, driven by inadequate access to quality care, malnutrition, and preventable diseases. Under-5 malnutrition, particularly stunting, affects nearly 40% of children in these regions, impairing physical and cognitive development and perpetuating cycles of poverty. The Mother and Child Care Program was designed to address these issues through targeted, community-driven interventions that rioritize the most vulnerable stages of life: pregnancy, childbirth, and early childhood.
