Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum today spoke at a workshop marking the "World Breastfeeding Week-2025" at CIRDAP auditorium in the city. Photo : PID

DHAKA, Aug 18, 2025 (BSS) - Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum today laid emphasis on ensuring proper training to the midwives for safe childbirth.

"Awareness needs to be created. Blaming doctors in all cases is useless. Where the capacity is 2,600, 5,000 patients come to the hospital. According to one estimate, 65 percent of deliveries are made in hospitals or clinics while 35 percent at home. Therefore, midwives need to be trained," she said.

The adviser said this while speaking as the chief guest at a workshop marking the "World Breastfeeding Week-2025" at CIRDAP auditorium in the city.

The Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Ministry, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF) organised the event.

At the meeting, Nurjahan said the work on ensuring breastfeeding is not solely the responsibility of the government or the health sector, but also of NGO workers and mosque imams. 

"This issue can be discussed in sermons. Even awareness-raising discussions can be held in temples and churches. The media also has a responsibility here. The media can show the nation the right path by presenting our work and awareness-raising activities," she added.

Secretary of the Health Services Division Md. Saidur Rahman, Director General (DG) of the Family Planning Department Dr. Ashrafi Ahmed, DG of the Health Education Department Nazmul Hossain and Chairman of the Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation Dr. SK Roy, among others, spoke on the occasion.