PANCHAGARH, Feb 24, 2022 (BSS) - Experts at a health camp today stressed

on maintaining sound health of working lactating mothers to ensure normal
growth of babies for a healthier nation.

     The Department of Women Affairs (DWA) and Panchagarh municipality
arranged the camp with assistance of the 'Working Lactating Mother Assistance
Fund' of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs at Panchagarh Adarsha
Shiksha Niketan premises.

     Alongside providing cost-free health services to the working lactating
mothers, powdered milk, nutritious cakes, hand sanitizers, face masks and
oral saline were distributed among them in the camp.

     A total of 1,450 working lactating mothers of Panchagarh municipality
are getting the assistance from the government free of costs.

    Panchagarh Municipal Mayor Zakia Khatun launched the health camp and
distributed cost-free baby foods and health safety materials among the
working lactating mothers as the chief guest.

     With Municipal Councilor Mostafa Kamal Milan in the chair, Deputy
Director of the DWA AKM Wahiduzzaman and Headmaster of Panchagarh Adarsha
Shikhsa Niketon Nasimul Hassan addressed the occasion as special guests.

     Medical Officer of Panchagarh Modernized Sadar Hospital Dr. Raihan Kabir
addressed the function as a resource person and conducted the health camp.

     Executive Director of 'Angikar Samaj Unnayan Sangstha' Maleka Yasmin
moderated the function.

     AKM Wahiduzzaman discussed various programs being implemented by the
government to reach health services to the poor and working lactating mothers
living both in urban as well as rural areas.

     Dr. Raihan Kabir suggested the lactating mothers to ensure breastfeeding
of babies for six months and continue the same for two years alongside
complementary foods to prevent child deaths under the age of five.

     He also discussed various aspects of health care and hygiene of
breastfeeding mothers, intake of daily safe and nutritious foods and child
care.

     The chief guest called upon lactating mothers to meet their nutrition by
taking vegetables and other foods to smoothly provide breast milk to babies
to ensure their proper physical and mental growths on the way to build a
healthier nation.