The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bangladesh Institute of Child Health and Dhaka Shishu Hospital jointly arranged a scientific seminar on 'Role of Oral Zinc Supplementation on Growth of Preterm Babies' on March 11 at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

National Professor Dr MR Khan was present as the chief guest at the seminar. Professor Md Ruhul Amin, Secretery, Academic Council welcomed everyone at the seminar. The keynote speech was delivered by Md Nazrul Islam.

The speaker highlighted the result of oral zinc supplementation on preterm babies from a randomised controlled trial carried out in neonatal ward of Dhaka Shishu Hospital, in collaboration with Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka from January 2006 to May 2007. The study revealed a distinct beneficial role of oral zinc supplementation along with multivitamins on preterm babies. The study showed zinc supplementation with multivitamin helps in promoting their growth. Professor MAK Azad Chowdhury, Professor of Pediatrics and Head of Neonatology, Professor Md. Salim Shakur, Director, Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dr SK Roy, Senior Scientist, ICDDR, B, Tracey Lynn Perez Koehlmoos, Health System Research Scientist, ICDDR,B and Dr Shamashad Begum Quraishi, Senior Scientific Officer, Chemistry Division, Atomic Energy Centre expressed their expert opinions on the topic as discussants.

The seminar was concluded with the closing speech delivered by Chairperson Professor Mohammed Hanif, Academic Director, BICH. The seminar was sponsored by Orion Laboratories Ltd. Tapan Kumar Roy, Senior Vice president, Marketing, Orion Laboratories Ltd was present on the occasion.