Dhaka: Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum today highlighted the necessity of providing proper training to midwives to ensure safe childbirth. "Awareness needs to be created. Blaming doctors in all cases is useless. Where the capacity is 2,600, 5,000 patients come to the hospital. According to one estimate, 65 percent of deliveries are made in hospitals or clinics while 35 percent at home. Therefore, midwives need to be trained," she said.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the adviser expressed these views while speaking as the chief guest at a workshop marking the "World Breastfeeding Week-2025" at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city. The Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Ministry, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF), organized the event.
At the meeting, Nurjahan underscored that ensuring breastfeeding is not solely the responsibility of the government or the health sector but also involves NGO workers and religious leaders. "This issue can be discussed in sermons. Even awareness-raising discussions can be held in temples and churches. The media also has a responsibility here. The media can show the nation the right path by presenting our work and awareness-raising activities," she added.
The event also featured speeches from other notable figures, including Secretary of the Health Services Division Md. Saidur Rahman, Director General of the Family Planning Department Dr. Ashrafi Ahmed, Director General of the Health Education Department Nazmul Hossain, and Chairman of the Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation Dr. SK Roy.