Speakers at a daylong advocacy workshop here have called upon the media workers to play their vital role in creating social awareness to prevent malnutrition of the mothers and children in building a healthier nation. World Vision Bangladesh (WVB) organised the workshop under its Child, Well-Being Project for the journalists on preventing malnutrition of mothers and children at the conference room of Pirganj Area Development Programme (ADP) in Pirganj upazila on Monday.
With Pirganj ADP Manager of WVB Francis P Nath in the chair, President of one faction of Pirganj Press Club Nurunnabi Sarder Rabu attended and addressed the advocacy workshop as the chief guest.
General Secretary of Pirganj Pres Club Abdul Karim Sarker, President of another faction of local Press Club Abduallahel Baki Bablu, its General Secretary Hassan Ali Pradhan, senior journalists Moksed Ali Sarker, Sada Miah, ATM Mazharul Alam Milan, Ehtesham Al Habib Emran, Bakhtiar Rahman, DM Hakim, Sekendar Ali, Ataur Rahman Sujon, took part in the open discussion session.
Project Manager of the Child, Well-Being Project Badal Sangma moderated the advocacy workshop that continued from 10am to 4pm in the afternoon.
The speakers put emphasis on proper selection and consumption of nutritious foodstuffs like vegetables to prevent deficiency of protein, vitamin-A, iodine, iron and necessary minerals of the people of all ages including mothers, babies and children. They said many babies, children, mothers, pregnant women and adolescents are suffering from malnutrition due to lack of awareness, knowledge and inappropriate food habits that cause subsequent complications.
They stressed awareness of the parents for ensuring balanced diet, breastfeeding, giving up habits of providing packed food to the babies and providing more vegetables to maintain their balanced nutrition.
They said rates of neo-natal, maternal and children deaths could be reduced further through stopping child marriage and ensuring nutrition of pregnant women, babies and children by successful implementation of the national nutrition service programme.
They also suggested for overcoming the deficiency of protein, vitamins, iodine, iron and minerals among the children, adolescents and pregnant women through consuming vegetables and breastfeeding for at least six months period for the newborn babies.
