The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a seminar in the city yesterday underscored breast feeding for the children's proper mental and physical development.

They urged the banning of advertisements of baby formula, claiming these as alternatives of breast feeding. There was no alternative to breast feeding, they remarked.

To mark the World Breast-Feeding Week, Social Science Forum and the Witness jointly organised the seminar on the importance of the breast feeding at the National Press Club.

Former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdur Rauf addressed the function as chief guest, while former Secretary to the government Shah Abdul Hannan and Editor of the New Nation Mostafa Kamal Majumder were special guests. Prof Tazmeri SA Islam, Dean of the Science Faculty of the Dhaka University presided over the function.

Dr Shamila Nahar presented the keynote paper and Dr Syeda Sultana Razia, Associate Professor, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BEUT) made the welcome speech.

Journalist Mahbubul Haque, Dr Mira Mamtaz Sabeka, medical officer of Midford Hospital, Nasima Hasan, chairman of the Witness, Dr Abu Kuldun Al Mahmud, Associate Professor of Ibn Sinha College, Kaniz Fatema and lecturer of Darul Ihsan University, among others, addressed the function.

With view to increasing the habit of breast feeding, they recommended publication of health tips containing instructions of breast feeding by the Health Ministry, to make maternity leave flexible, to aware the health activists about importance of breast feeding and to establish the Day Care Centre at the women's working places to facilitate breast feeding.

Justice Abdur Rauf said there is no baby food item which could be alternative to breast feeding which is needed for proper mental and physical development of the children.

He said the elite in the society were responsible for spreading propaganda of the multinational companies by marketing artificial baby foods first. Thus, they contaminated the society, he added.

Shah Abdul Hannan said there are three major obstacles in the way to increase habit of breast feeding. These are propaganda by the multinational companies, apprehension to lose attractiveness of the mother's figure, absence of Day Care Centres in the women's working places.

He emphasised on moral knowledge and mass awareness for overcoming propaganda of the multinational companies.

Mostafa Kamal Majumder said it was a misconception that breast feeding disfigures the mother, rather it helps increase the beauty of their figure.

Dr Mira Momtaz said according to a recent survey about 40 million children die every year throughout the world, many of the children might be saved, if they were breastfed.

They said breast feeding could protect the children from different physical and mental diseases.