Photo: BSS

RAJSHAHI, Aug 9, 2026 (BSS)- Along with nutritious food, a mother's awareness, regular health check-ups, vaccination and hygiene habits play an important role in the healthy growth of a child.
 
To verify how much these basic health practices for children are ensured in families, and to make the parents aware, a ‘Healthy Baby’ Competition was held in Rajshahi today.
 
In this competition, organized with the participation of children under five years of age and their guardians, importance was given to the child's physical growth and nutrition as well as the mother's health-related knowledge.
 
The competition was held  at the City Church Hall Room here. It was organized by World Vision Bangladesh Rajshahi City ADP.
 
The chief guest at the event was Rajshahi Civil Surgeon Dr. SIM Raziul Karim. He said, to ensure the good health of a child, parents must pay attention to nutrition, vaccination and regular health monitoring from birth.
 
Ensuring only mother's breast milk for the first six months and then balanced and nutritious food is essential for the normal development of the child. 

Initiatives like the ‘Healthy Baby’ competition will play an important role in making parents aware as well as creating an environment for children to grow up healthily.

In addition, exclusive breastfeeding up to six months of age, nutritious food twice a day along with breast milk from six to eight months, three times a day from nine to 11 months, and three full bowls of food a day from 12 to 23 months were also evaluated.
 
 
At that time, with World Vision Bangladesh Rajshahi Program Officer Ripon Haldar conducting the program, Rajshahi Press Club General Secretary Golam Mostafa Mamun spoke as a special guest at the event.
 
On this matter, Senior Manager of World Vision Bangladesh Rajshahi, Lotus Chisim, said, for the well-being of the children, it is necessary to ensure nutrition, cleanliness and regular health monitoring in addition to treatment.
 
Mother's knowledge and family awareness play a big role in child care. Through the ‘Healthy Baby’ competition, parents are being encouraged to acquire practical health and nutrition knowledge.
 
The keynote paper at the event was presented by Senior Program Officer of World Vision Bangladesh Rajshahi, Nilu Begum.
 
The organizers said, a total of 8,000 children participated in the ‘Healthy Baby’ competition.
 
In the initial stage, 1,200 children were selected for final screening. Later, 180 children were finally selected from there. Among them, 18 were given special prizes and 162 were given general prizes.
 
Arrangement of soap and water for hand washing of the child and where to seek treatment if sick — these issues were also included in the evaluation.
 
Swapna Khatun, mother of child Sayan who participated in the competition from Kashiadanga area, said that by participating in the competition, she learned many important things about child nutrition and care.
 
She is now more aware than before about what kind of food and how much to give the child according to age. She said she will regularly monitor the child's weight, food and cleanliness.
 
Supta Akhter, mother of child Rafa from Motihar area of the city, said that it is not enough to just feed the child to a full stomach, correct and nutritious food must be given according to age. 
 
If such events are held regularly, awareness among parents about child health and nutrition will increase further.