RANGPUR, June 7, 2022 (BSS) - Experts at a discussion have stressed strengthening the influential role of religious leaders in improving the maternal health situation through creating social awareness and changing positive attitudes of the people.
 
Rangpur Divisional Office of Islamic Foundation, with UNICEF support, organized the discussion at its auditorium on Monday marking the National Safe Motherhood Day- 2022 putting stress on ensuring institutional delivery of pregnant mothers.
 
Imams, Khatibs, Hindu-Buddhist-Christian religious leaders, religious teachers, journalists and field level officials of the Islamic Foundation from different districts and upazilas of Rangpur division participated in the event.
 
Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md. Ibrahim Khan attended the discussion as the chief guest with Deputy Commissioner Md. Asib Ahsan in the chair.
 
UNICEF Chief of field office for Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions Najibullah Hameem, Rangpur Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Abu Md. Zakirul Islam, Superintendent of Police Md. Ferdous Ali Chowdhury and Director of the Coordination Department of Islamic Foundation Mohammad Mohiuddin Majumder spoke as special guests.
 
Director of the Imam Training Academy Md. Alamgir Haider, Divisional Director of Islamic Foundation Md. Abul Kalam Azad and Vice-principal of Rangpur Keramotia Alia Madrasa Mohammad Ali Sarkar also spoke.
 
The chief guest called for raising public awareness through Imams and other religious leaders to ensure safe maternal health and reduce maternal mortality rate to 70 per every one lakh live births as per the sustainable development goals.
 
The Deputy Commissioner said reducing maternal mortality is a top priority of the government and urged religious leaders to make people aware of the need to ensure institutional deliveries of pregnant mothers.
 
Najibullah Hameem praised Imams and other religious leaders for making the people aware of abiding by the health and hygiene rules in and out of mosques during the Covid-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.
 
"Imamas, Khatibs and other religious leaders can play an influential role in bringing a positive change in health and rights habits among people and providing physical and mental health care to mothers," he said.
 
Dr. Zakirul Islam said although the maternal mortality rate in the country is less than before, still 4,720 pregnant mothers die annually while giving birth.
 
"More than half of the total births in Rangpur division still happen at home. Last year, 165 mothers died per one lakh live births in Rangpur division," he said.
 
He called for involving religious leaders more effectively in strengthening awareness raising activities at institutions to stop child marriage and increase quality of safe maternal, reproductive health services and primary health care.