Dhaka: Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum today laid emphasis on increasing the rate of breastfeeding to provide infants with essential nutrients for their sound physical and mental development. ‘The rate of breastfeeding should be increased. Now, around 55 percent of children is receiving mother’s milk, earlier this rate was much higher,’ she said while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of ‘World Breastfeeding Week 2025’ at the conference room of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in the city, said a press release.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Nurjahan emphasized the importance of initiating breastfeeding immediately after birth. She expressed concern about the common medical advice to use formula milk when there is insufficient breast milk in the first few days after birth and urged doctors to promote breastfeeding instead. She highlighted that although awareness about the benefits of colostrum, the nutrient-rich first milk, has improved, challenges in breastfeeding persist.
Nurjahan discussed the significance of preparing for breast milk production during pregnancy, stating that from the sixth month, mothers should focus on their diet and related preparations. She noted that a mother’s well-being is crucial for producing sufficient nutrients for the child.
The adviser also addressed the challenges faced by working mothers who struggle to provide adequate milk due to lack of awareness and access to food. She linked these challenges to poverty, indicating that with a national poverty rate of around 20 percent, nutritional deficits are a significant concern for children’s health. Nurjahan called for collective efforts to alleviate poverty to ensure better outcomes for infants.
She emphasized the need for a shift in social attitudes, advocating for immediate post-birth bonding between mothers and their newborns. Nurjahan urged communities to be more accepting and supportive of domestic workers, including recognizing their roles as mothers.
The meeting was presided over by Health Services Division Secretary Md Saidur Rahman, with Health Education Division Secretary Dr Sarwar Bari and Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Professor Dr. Md. Abu Zafar, among others, in attendance.