Desk News: Instructions to hold awareness programs in at least one district every month to increase breastfeeding. On August 1, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain said that there is no alternative to breast milk to ensure good health, proper growth and immunity of children.
He said this while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of World Breastfeeding Week 2026 at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in the capital today’s.
The program was organized with the theme ‘Breastfeeding at the beginning of life: Let’s accelerate sustainable initiatives’ to create public awareness about breastfeeding.
The program was chaired by Health Secretary Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr. SM Ziauddin Haider, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Professor Dr. Prabhat Chandra Biswas, Additional Secretary (Global Health Division) of the Ministry of Health Sheikh Momena Moni and Director of the Public Health Nutrition Institute Dr. Mohammad Yunus Ali and other concerned officials were present.
The Health Minister said that mother’s milk is the best and most complete source of nutrition given by nature for the baby. It is very important to feed the baby with colostrum immediately after birth. Colostrum plays an important role in increasing the child’s immunity. However, due to the increase in the rate of cesarean delivery and lack of awareness, many children are being deprived of colostrum and breast milk.
He said that the body of many children is becoming weak due to malnutrition. Child malnutrition is increasing in the country due to early marriage, malnutrition and lack of awareness among mothers, and not feeding the baby with breast milk properly.
Criticizing the activities of the Public Health Nutrition Institute, the Minister said that in the last one year, there was no initiative to create effective awareness among the common people of the village about breastfeeding. From now on, an action plan for one year should be formulated and awareness programs should be conducted in at least one district every month.
He said that the public should be made aware about the need for breastfeeding by involving civil surgeons, district administrators and upazila-level officials in these programs. This will create a healthy and safe future generation and will help reduce the child mortality rate.
Regarding the use of baby food and alternative milk, the Health Minister said that there is a law in the country to control alternative foods to breast milk. Balanced food prepared at home is more suitable for children than powdered milk mixed with various ingredients and preservatives in the market.
He said that nutritious food like khichdi made from rice porridge, pulses, potatoes and vegetables from the age of six months is beneficial for children.
Urging mothers, the Health Minister said that no mother should deprive her child of the blessing of breast milk given by Allah Almighty. Children should be ensured natural and valuable nutrition like breast milk instead of going for artificial alternatives.
He said that the main commitment today should be to create a beautiful, healthy and strong child-nourished generation. They are the ones who will take charge of the country in the future.
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