Smiling Sun Franchise Program (SSFP) has started broadcasting ANC TV commercials through cable TV networks across the country as part of its ongoing ANC campaign.  The TVC broadcasting was launched on March 8 to mark the World Women’s Day. The CoP of SSFP formally launched the TVC by switching it on at Adabar Surjer Hashi clinic. Swanirvar Executive Director Al Husaynee chaired the event.

 

The customers present at the waiting room provided instant feedback on the TVC. They were asked five questions about the messages regarding antenatal care in the commercial. All of them answered correctly. This has confirmed the clarity of the messages in the TVC. The Smiling Sun team has given away prizes to five customers who responded the questions correctly.  SSFP has prepared another TVC on the control of diarrheal diseases that would be broadcasted simultaneously with ANC one in all 320 clinics catchment areas for nine months.

 

Dr. Craig Y. Castillo, a Colonel of US Air Force and his colleagues, Mr. Reid Logg, Security Advisor, and Mr. Kelly Carr, Logistics Planner, visited Smiling Sun Jessore Clinic on March 11, 2010. Ms Farida Tun Nahar, Project Director of PKS, welcomed the team at the clinic. They toured the clinic and talked to customers. They got impressed to see the quality of services, cleanliness and the ‘breast feeding corners’ and ‘child corners’.  They informed the PKS officials that another US team will be visiting Bangladesh in June and wished to provide technical support on hospital management, finance and skill development of clinic personnel.

 

Earlier on March 9, 2010, a USAID team led by Ms. Sharon Welch from USAID, Washington also visited the same clinic. Mr. Krishnapada Chakraborty, Mr. Shahidul Islam and Dr. Sharmina Sultana from USAID Bangladesh accompanied them.

 

Smiling Sun Jessor Clinic is an ultra clinic managed by Paribar Kalyan Samity (PKS). It has emergency maternal and obstetric care facilities.

 

SSFP has launched its new website face (www.smilingsunhealth.com) in a special meeting of the Membership Council Directorate on March 11, 2010 at SSFP conference room. The new website is designed ensure more interactions and transparency across the Smiling Sun network. From the website, NGOs can see their financial and performance reports, download necessary documents, promotional and training materials. They can also read newsletters, news briefs, success stories and best practices from the website.

 

The contact persons of the partnering NGOs attended the special meeting of the Membership Council Directorate. In his welcome speech, the CoP of SSFP said that SSFP has been giving special emphasis on transparency in the program implementation. Two elements such as clear communications and effective control are essential for the continuity of the program in the long run, he said. The new website will contribute to ensure the transparency to a great extent, he added. The representatives of the NGOs requested to add a brief profile of each NGO in the new website.

 

The Smiling Sun Franchise Program (SSFP) laid the foundation stone, starting the construction of a Smiling Sun Clinic building in the coastal area of Anowara in Chittagong on February 13, 2010.  Karnafuly Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO) has agreed to contribute donate the building construction, as well as some equipment, as part of their CSR effort. Mr. Nurul Islam Choudhury, an active community member,  donated the land worth Taka forty lakh.

 

The local MP Mr. Akteruzzaman Choudhury (Babu), who is also Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Jute and Textile Ministry, inaugurated the foundation stone laying ceremony and unveiled the plaque.  Mr. Salahddinn Ahmed, CEO, KAFCO, Mr. Khairul Alam Azad, Chief Operation Officer, KAFCO, Juan Carlos Negrette, COP of SSFP, Prof. Dr. Mir Samsur Rahaman, Executive Committee member of FDSR, local Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Upazila Health and Family Welfare Officer were present, among others, in the inaugural ceremony.

 

Speakers at the inaugural ceremony said that the clinic will be able to provide health and family planning services to 350,000 people in the coastal areas living in the  Anowara Upazila. They also expressed their gratitude to the land donor for his noble gesture. Around 800 people from the local community attended the inaugural program. At present, the Anwara Clinic is located in Bot -toli on a rented house and expected to shift to the new building by October 2010.