The Salesian Sisters are running six small clinics in remote parts of Bangladesh to cut deaths of mothers and newborns and bring basic care to families who need it most. The clinics are in the dioceses of Mymensingh, Sylhet and Chittagong and offer pregnancy checkups, simple tests, medicines and safe places for deliveries. Sister Baptista Rema has served these communities for more than 25 years and says the teams deliver about three healthy babies each month at their clinics and see at least ten pregnant women a month for advice and care. She notes that when she began nursing in 1999 some areas had very high infant death rates, but steady local care has brought big improvements in places the sisters serve. The clinics teach mothers how to feed and warm infants, spot danger signs, and when to seek help, and they also provide basic medicines and clean facilities for childbirth. Families say the service is vital because many people are poor, live far from hospitals and cannot afford private care. Government health staff say missionary clinics reach villages where public services are hard to run and help fill major gaps in care. UNICEF reports that over one hundred thousand children in Bangladesh died before age five in 2023, and most of these deaths happen in the first month of life, which shows why newborn care matters. Simple actions such as clean delivery, warmth, breastfeeding and quick treatment of infection can save many lives if clinics are nearby. The sisters still face big challenges like limited funds, poor roads, low education and families that must work even during pregnancy, which can keep women from seeking care. To solve these problems the sisters ask donors, local groups and authorities to support clinics with medicines, training, clean water and transport so more women can get checkups and reach care in time. They also urge public health drives that teach families when to seek help and how to care for newborns in the first month. Local leaders say small, trusted clinics build community confidence so families use services early and keep follow up visits. With steady local care, basic supplies and more small donations the Salesian Sisters aim to reach more villages, lower maternal and infant deaths and help more children grow healthy and strong. This work shows how local teams can protect lives and give families a safer start.
