World Breastfeeding Week-2008 ends

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Aug 7 (BSS)-The World Breastfeeding Week-2008 ended
here today with a call for providing supports to mothers
practising breastfeeding to ensure a sound health for the
posterity.

Child mortality rate could be reduced to a great extent if
mothers embark on an extensive breastfeeding of their babies,
speakers said at the concluding day function of the week in the
city.

Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF) arranged the
function in the Sasakawa auditorium of the ICDDR,B at Mohakhali.

Joint Secretary of the Health Ministry Uzzal Bikash Dutta
was the chief guest at the function, chaired by BBF Chairperson
Dr SK Roy.

Country Director of CARE Bangladesh Nick Southern, Executive
Director of World Vision Bangladesh Vincent Edwards, Acting
Executive Director of ICDDR,B Dr MA Salam, Executive Director
National Nutrition Programme Biman Kumar Saha, Director National
Nutrition Institute Dr Fatima Parveen and BBF Secretary Professor
Soofia Khatoon addressed the function.

Speaking on the occasion, Uzzal Bikash Dutta underscored the
need for creating mass awareness about breastfeeding throughout
the year. "A week is not enough to raise awareness about the
issue rather we should have round the year programme", he opined.

He appealed to the world community to hammer out a plan for
innovating an alternative to the existing baby food on the
market.

Dr SK Roy said breastfeeding is one of the main tools to
reduce child mortality rate. He called for the formation of
`Mother Support Group' in all localities across the country.

Other speakers laid emphasis on the formulation of a food
policy for children to reduce the child mortality rate. The
babies, who are provided with breastfeeding, are more safe from
diseases, they said.

This year's theme of the World Breastfeeding Week was "Mother
Support: Going For the Gold".

In light of the theme, BBF in cooperation with development
partners arranged discussion, seminar, workshop, rally, debate,
painting and quiz competitions, exhibition of film and poster,
distribution of prizes among successful mothers, who breastfeed
their children across the country.