CARE Bangladesh organized the first Long Acting Reversible Contraception Method Camp (LARC camp) for the Myanmar refugees on November 4, 2018 at Palongkhali Family Welfare Center (FWC) in Ukhiya with implementing partner FDSR. The event was inaugurated by Dr. Pintu Kanti Bhattacharjee, Deputy Director, Family Planning Department, Cox’s Bazar. FWC is a union level government facility that provides family planning services. The camp was arranged in collaboration with the Family Planning Department where the service providers from the government and CARE’s implementation partner FDSR were present.
26 Myanmar refugees from Balukhali, Hakimpara, Maynarghona and Tajnimarkhola received the family planning treatments on the inauguration day. The aim of this LARC campaign was to create awareness among eligible couples (women with their husbands and influential family members). Two types of contraceptive options were given to the families: Implant (hormonal device insert on mid upper arm) and IUD (intra uterine device). The families were free to choose their preferred family planning option. All of the GoB rules and regulations for selection criteria were followed. On the inauguration day, Dr. Pintu Kanti Bhattacharjee led the implant insertion team along with a group of paramedics including Md. Saiful Islam, Baby Mollick, Oindrila Tithi Bala, Maria Akter and CA Hasina Akter.
On July 10, 2018, CARE’s implementing partner FDSR received government approval for using LARC by the DG and DD of Family Planning Department. Following that, on September 18, 2018, CARE received the LARC inventory of 90 IUD and 200 implant from UNFPA.
