Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina said Wednesday ten thousand more nurses will be appointed in the public sector hospitals and clinics in addition to establishment of a higher institution for postgraduate nursing studies, reports BSS.
She said two more child hospitals would be constructed in the capital, one in the east part and other in the west part. Besides, a child hospital will be built in each division. The PM said this while inaugurating the World Breastfeeding Week-2014 in the city Wednesday.
Sheikh Hasina asked the health professionals to provide best support and encouragement to mothers for breastfeeding saying breastfeeding is a right of infants. She also urged all concerned for rigorous execution of the Breastfeeding Substitute (marketing control) Act 2013.
The PM said the holy Quran tells for breastfeeding to the new born babies up to two years. "There is no alternative to breastfeeding for normal growth of a child. Breast-milk is the only balanced and safe food for a child up to six months," she said.
Hasina said the country imports powder-milk of around Tk 40 billion every year and most of them are used as infant food. "Hundred per cent breastfeeding will save the huge foreign currency every year," she said.
Expressing her satisfaction over peoples' awareness on breastfeeding, the PM said the number of breastfeeding mothers has increased to 64 per cent over the last five years from 47 per cent.
Health Minister Mohammad Nasim and State Minister for Health Zahid Malek attended the function as the special guests while Secretary of the Health Ministry MM Niazuddin presided.
Director General (DG) of Health Department Dr Deen M Nurul Haque, DG of Family Planning Department Nur Hossain Talukder, Chairperson of Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation SK Roy and Director of National Health and Nutrition Institute Dr M Shahnewaz also spoke on the occasion.
Sheikh Hasina said her government in 2009 had asked for observing the Breastfeeding Week officially. Since then, the breastfeeding week is being observed across the country, making people aware about the issue, she added.
