UNICEF Bangladesh organizes awareness seminar on Breastfeeding

 
UNICEF Bangladesh organized a seminar to celebrate world breastfeeding week-2023. They arrange an awareness programme on "creating an enabling environment at workplace to support the working parents in protecting,promoting & supporting breastfeeding" on the occasion of world breastfeeding week-2023. Seminar held at Carnival Hall of the bangabandhu international convention centre, Dhaka at 09 AM to 01:00 PM on 8 August 2023 (Tuesday). The Seminar is presided by Prof. Dr. Mijanur Rahman, Line Director of National Nutrition Service and moderated by Ms.monira Parveen, Nutrition Officer of UNICEF. Prof.Dr.Abul Bashar Mohammed Khurshid Alam,Director General of DGHS was the chief guest of the program. Dr.M Islam Bulbul, Programme Manager, NNS presented the keynote in Seminar.

Experts said at the seminar, "Breastfeeding is one the most important factors for the growth and development of the infants, which not only offer the health benefits to a child but also the mother".

Optimal infant and young child feeding practices are critical for the health and survival of the young children. Breast milk is the best source of nutrition to meet all the nutrition needs of infants for the first 6 months of life. So it is recommended that newborn babies are breastfed within the first hour of life, including exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, they added in discussion.

Early initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth can prevent up to 22 percent of all newborn deaths and according to the Lancet Every newborn series, the newborn mortality could be further reduced up to 44 percent. Effective exclusive breastfeeding coverage has been estimated to prevent 13-15 percent deaths among children under five years of age especially in middle and low-earning settings, said experts in the seminar.

Enabling workplace accommodation to support working parents is critical to improving breastfeeding practices in Bangladesh.
World Breastfeeding is Week is a global campaign to raise awareness and galvanize action on themes related to breastfeeding. This year (2023), the theme of the world breastfeeding week is: Enabling Breastfeeding-Making a difference for working parents. Eminent citizens including different trade body leaders, Business leaders, health experts  and government high officials were also present in the seminar and shared their opinions about these issues.