Marie Stopes (MS) currently operates six maternity centers targeted at the urban poor in Dhaka, Barisal, Comilla and Sylhet. 3 centres in Dhaka, Barisal and Comilla function under the Urban Primary Health Care Project (UPHCP) phase II. 3 other centres in Dhaka and Sylhet are fully funded by MS itself, of which the Dhaka centres (Premium

Maternity Centres) are targeted at the middle and upper middle income population. The purpose of these maternity centers is to provide affordable and quality delivery services in the catchment areas. The primary objective is to reduce mortality and morbidity, especially among women and children and improve the health of the urban poor by improving access to quality health services are provided in urban areas.

The maternity centers provide round the clock obstetric services including normal delivery, assisted delivery and caesarean sections. The centers are sufficiently staffed to provide 24 hour services. An additional team provides outdoor primary health care services.

MS also conducts a comprehensive Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) campaign targeting families from amongst the target audience to change their behavior regarding safe delivery, using slide shows, uthan baithak/group discussions using big pictorial flip charts, Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) meetings, meetings with community leaders and distribution of direct mail, leaflets, booklets etc.

 Premium Maternity Centre

Over the last few years, MS has shown massive growth in the field of SRH and maternal health services. Almost 1.7 million clients are benefited from MS service outlets annually (2009). The focus is mainly on the poor and under served. In the backdrop of the above situation, MS proceeded to cater to the needs of middle income and upper middle-income groups with a safety net for the low income and poor clients and set up a comparatively higher rated Comprehensive Reproductive Health Care in Dhaka in February’06 with its own reserve fund.  This Premium Maternity Center was first launched at Road # 15, Dhanmondi. The premises were renovated and refurbished to portray a more classy atmosphere and all infrastructural facilities are modestly upgraded. The center runs 24 hours a day round the year. The indoor facilities offer packaged services for normal and caesarian deliveries, while the outdoor services offer all the SRH services offered by other MS referral clinics. Within the grounds, provisions for cabins were made along with General Wards, Ante-natal Ward, Post-natal Ward, Observation Room, Delivery Room, Operation Theatre, Pathology Room, Ultrasonography Room and other necessary units.

The success of this Maternity Centre led to the opening of the 2nd Marie Stopes Premium Maternity Centre in Mirpur in December 2007 with similar facilities and infrastructure as the first centre. The centers provide comprehensive safe motherhood services as well as a wide range of other SRH services. The centers are open 24 hours 7 days a week.

 
Staffs of Marie Stopes Premium clinic

The major services are:

• Essential Obstetric Care( delivery)

• Family planning (Full range of Family Planning)

• Ante and post natal

• RTI/STI management

• Menstrual regulation

• Vaccination

• General and child health

• Supportive pathological tests