Health experts at a post-rally discussion here have stressed for inspiring the mothers and common people for ensuring optimal breastfeeding to substantially reduce infant mortality rate for healthier growth of the babies.
The Civil Surgeon Office in association with World Vision Bangladesh organised the discussion here on Monday to begin observance of the World Breastfeeding Week-2015 with the theme of ‘Breastfeeding & Work, Let’s make it.’
The Government of Bangladesh, Institute of Public Health & Nutrition, the Directorate of Health under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in cooperation with UNICEF have been extending assistance in observing the week through various programmes.’
Earlier, a colourful rally, participated by the government and NGO
officials and employees, health workers, supervisors, nurses, mothers, teachers, students, civil society members, public representatives and elite, paraded the city streets.
Later, Civil Surgeon Dr Mozammel Hossain presided over the discussion meeting held at his conference room in Sadar Hospital premises in the city.
Medical Officer of Civil Surgeon’s Office Dr Ruhul Amin delivered welcome speech while Sadar Upazila Health Family Planning Officer Dr Salah Uddin Mahmud participated as the main discussant.
District Nutrition and Health Officer of UNICEF for Rangpur Abu Ahmed Abdullah elaborately narrated the necessity and importance of breastfeeding using power point presentation as the main resource person.
The speakers said Bangladesh has already achieved tremendous success in increasing exclusive breastfeeding rate among the children below six months and the rate has been rising sustainably onwards.
The breast milk has extraordinary advantages and the newborns exclusively need first breast milk within an hour as it contains nutritious colostrums and antibodies those make them stronger enhancing immune systems and disease resistance capacities.
They said breast milk is the best food for the newborn babies and stressed for timely initiation of breastfeeding after one hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding for six months and its continuation for two years along with adequate complementary foods.
