EMPOWERING WOMEN TO BRIDGE THE HEALTHCARE GAPS IN KUTUBDIA

Abstract

Kutubdia, a remote island in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, faces chronic barriers to education, health care, and women’s empowerment due to its geographic isolation, limited government service provision, and entrenched patriarchal norms. In 2021, Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GK), with support from Malteser International, initiated a community-based primary health care project aimed at improving maternal, child, and adolescent health outcomes by strengthening community clinics and enhancing outreach to underserved households. Baseline data revealed low maternal health service uptake, with only 33% of pregnant women receiving regular antenatal care and most deliveries conducted by unskilled attendants. To address physical access constraints, GK deployed midwives, a medical officer, and community health workers, who later adopted an innovative door-to-door service model using scooters to reach remote households. This approach not only improved timely access to antenatal, postnatal, and outpatient services but also challenged restrictive gender norms by positioning women as visible health leaders in the community. Between 2022 and 2025, four ANC visits increased from 11% to 35%, PNC coverage rose from 6% to 24%, outpatient service utilization tripled from 20% to 60%, and participation in awareness sessions expanded to 65%. The initiative demonstrates how women-led mobility and community-driven primary care can strengthen health systems, promote gender empowerment, and shift social attitudes in climate-vulnerable, hard-to-reach settings. The Kutubdia model presents a scalable approach for advancing equitable, community-based health care in similar remote contexts.