The Safe Motherhood Day 2012 was observed in Bangladesh on 28th May 2012 with the theme of ‘Safe delivery is a mother’s right.’ Different government and non-government organizations undertook elaborate programs to observe the day.
The Ministry of Health of Bangladesh organized a rally in Dhaka, which was attended by 
more than 1,500 people from different national and international bodies including PPD. The PPD Secretariat staff joined hands with its sub-recipient partner called Safe Motherhood Program partner Disabled Rehabilitation & Research Association (DRRA), to actively participate in the colorful whole day and nationwide celebrated safe mother hood event. DRRA is a local implementing partner for a World Bank funded, three country (Bangladesh, Uganda and Senegal) project, on Human Rights Based Approach to Maternal Health. The project aims to enhance capacity of relevant government officials and key stakeholders in maternal health to improve their policies and programs, and make them more equitable and supportive for women and girls especially the most vulnerable. It is also expected that the project helps countries to establish effective mechanisms of accountability, non-discrimination, partnership building for the prevention of unacceptably needless maternal deaths and injuries accounted each year.
The safe motherhood rally was flagged off by Dr. Captain (Retd.) Mozibur Rahman Fakir, the Honorable State Minister of Health & Family Welfare of Bangladesh. The State Minister stated that the Government of Bangladesh recognized the importance of and was committed to addressing Safe Motherhood to reach its MDG commitment. The safe motherhood rally celebrations, culminated in a national celebration program on Safe Motherhood that was held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka –Bangladesh presided over by her Excellency, The Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and attended by ministers, Heads of UN agencies, PPD leadership and other key development partners. In her key remarks, the Prime Minister urged the international and domestic level communities to join hands with the Government of Bangladesh to ensure ‘safe delivery of every new born and the health of mothers’ to build a healthy nation.
PPD is also taking this opportunity to implore all its member countries, development partners, duty bearers to collectively work towards making every baby and the mother’s life count!