Marketing Innovation for Health Project (MIH)

Financial partner: Social Marketing Company (SMC)/USAID

Project Duration: 2012-2016

Objective: Community mobilization to reduce harmful health practices and to promote good health practices.

Projects areas:

Target groups:

1. Married Women of Reproductive Age (MWRA).

2. Caregiver of children under 5.

3. School based adolescents (13-19 years).

4. Husband of MWRA.

5. Community birth attendance (CBA).

6. Work-place workers (Laborer)

7. Community influential leaders.

Major activities:

• To conduct community mobilization meetings with all groups by using audiovisual equipment.

• To select and train community volunteers, who work as the Community Sales Agents (CSA).

• Procure health products from the SMC and distribute to the CSAs.

• Distribute the BCC materials in the community.

• Conduct Palagan shows, telecast dramas, organize boat riding.

• Observe national days, (health day, safe motherhood day, TB Day, breast feeding   day).

• Best couples’ awards for raising awareness on good health practice.

Role of Community Sale Agent: In six Upazilas, a total number of 190 Community sales Agents (CSA) are working as volunteers for MIH Project. The project staff provide training to them each month on the promotion of different health products like contraceptives, sanitary napkins, safe delivery kits, micro-nutrition etc. The training includes counseling, communication, and the small business strategy. In one union there are 4 CSAs, who motivate people to use the products. The project staff help them to procure the products from the Social Marketing Company. In return the CSAs earn a commission for each sale. In fact the project is trying to develop the marginalized women-who are working as CSAs- as small entrepreneurs in future.

So, the uniqueness of the project is a combination of social mobilization and social marketing.