Breastfeeding key to fighting child malnutrition
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Saturday said there is no substitute for breast milk in ensuring children’s healthy growth, urging greater public awareness to encourage breastfeeding across the country.
Speaking at the inaugural session of World Breastfeeding Week 2026 at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, the minister said mother’s milk is the primary source of nutrition for babies during the first 4-5 months after birth.
Highlighting the importance of early breastfeeding, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said colostrum given immediately after delivery is highly valuable as it contains the highest level of protein.
He expressed concern that many newborns are being deprived of colostrum and breast milk due to increasing caesarean sections and a lack of awareness among families.
Addressing the event, the minister said malnutrition is weakening children’s health, referring to measles patients currently receiving treatment at hospitals.
He said many mothers stop breastfeeding their children citing their own nutritional problems, describing the practice as inappropriate.
According to him, early marriage, lack of awareness and failure to continue breastfeeding are among the reasons behind rising malnutrition.
Criticising previous inactivity by the Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN), Sakhawat Husain said no effective meeting or seminar had been organised in the past one year to raise public awareness on breastfeeding.
He instructed authorities to prepare a year-long programme involving civil surgeons, deputy commissioners and upazila-level officials to educate people about the importance of breastfeeding and ensure its implementation.
“This will make the people of the country aware and help raise the future generation safely. Along with this, the child mortality rate will decrease,” he said.
The minister also stressed the need for proper regulation of alternative foods and formula milk, saying Bangladesh has laws to control products that replace breast milk.
“Home-made balanced food is much more suitable for children than powdered milk available in the market. After six months, a khichuri-like diet made of rice porridge, lentils, potatoes and vegetables is the best food for children,” he said.
Addressing mothers, Sakhawat Husain urged them not to deprive children of breast milk, describing it as a natural gift essential for their wellbeing.
“When a mother pulls the child to her chest, the baby stops crying immediately in its absolute safety. So, children should be given this natural gift instead of going for artificial alternatives,” he said.
World Breastfeeding Week 2026 is being observed from August 1 to August 7 with the theme “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works”.
The awareness programme was organised at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka to promote breastfeeding practices.
The event was chaired by Health Secretary Md Quamruzzaman Chowdhury.
Among others, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health Dr SM Ziauddin Haider, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Professor Dr Pravath Chandra Biswas, Additional Secretary (Global Health Division) of the Health Ministry Sheikh Momena Moni, and Director of the Public Health Nutrition Institute Dr Mohammad Yunus Ali attended the programme.
