24/7 normal delivery center launched in Karail

A round-the-clock normal delivery center, 'Midwifery Lead 24/7 Alo NVD Center', has officially launched in the Karail slum area of Banani, Dhaka, aiming to improve maternal and newborn health among the city's most underserved population.

The center was inaugurated on Tuesday (July 1) in a ceremony attended by key stakeholders. Dr Zahirul Islam, senior health adviser of the Swedish Embassy, was present as the chief guest.

Funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and supported technically by UNICEF, the center has been established in collaboration with the Karail Alo Clinic. It will be managed by a consortium led by Painless Normal Delivery (PHD), comprising Nari Maitree and CMED Health.

This new center addresses a critical gap in maternal healthcare services in the Karail area, where residents have long faced limited access to safe childbirth facilities. Organisers say the initiative will serve as a model for urban healthcare delivery, integrating trained midwives, electronic health records, and 24/7 service availability.

The center will provide comprehensive maternal services, including pre- and post-natal care, newborn care, emergency referral systems, and consultation-based treatment—all free of charge. Local leaders hailed the initiative as a major step forward in ensuring dignified and safe childbirth for Dhaka's urban poor.

This launch marks an expansion of the existing Alo Clinic network, which currently operates six centers across Karail, Mirpur, Dhalpur, Shyampur, Ershadnagar in Gazipur, and Tanbazar-Meenabazar in Narayanganj. Over the past three and a half years, these clinics have served over 334,000 registered patients, providing more than 848,000 doctor consultations and over 207,000 lab tests, along with services in vaccination, nutrition, family planning, and non-communicable diseases.

Previously, Alo Clinics had opened three normal delivery centers that facilitated 261 safe deliveries. With the opening of the Karail center, the program continues to expand its reach and impact on urban maternal and child health.

Other notable attendees included Dr Chandrashekhar Solomon, head (acting) of UNICEF Health Department; Masud Karim, chairman of PHD; Abdus Salam, managing director of PHD; Shahin Akhtar Dolly, executive director of Nari Maitree; Farhana Sikder, managing director of CMED Health; as well as representatives from development partners and local community leaders.