Breastfeeding week begins

The government has taken all necessary initiatives to observe the breastfeeding week starting on Monday across the country amid the Cobid-19 pandemic to renew the commitment of the health authorities in promoting breastfeeding as a fundamental right of all mothers and children.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque joined the inaugural function of the breastfeeding week virtually, an official release said.

While addressing the function, he said there is no alternative to promoting breastfeeding to build a healthy nation, reports BSS. 

The minister stressed that infants must be given first breast milk as it makes their body's immune and resistance systems strong, which help protect them from various diseases, he added.

Also Read- Health experts urge pregnant, breastfeeding women to get vaccinated

The breastfeeding week takes place at a time when the experts are calling for vaccinating the pregnant and breastfeeding women on priority basis. 

Covid-19 causes low oxygen saturations in pregnant women, which causes the mothers and unborn infants to die. Hence, vaccination is the only reliable means of protection.

According to officials, the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG), the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the Obstructical and Gynecological Society of Bangladesh Hospital (OGSB) are in favor of the proposal to vaccinate the pregnant and breastfeeding women.