The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Information Secretary Jamil Osman yesterday emphasised the need for creating mass awareness among the people about reproductive health in particular.

"The risks of infant mortality and maternal deaths could not be avoided due to the ignorance about reproductive health," he said addressing a two-day workshop on "Advocacy on Reproductive Health and Gender" as chief guest at Bangladesh Press Institute (PIB) in the city.

The Information Secretary called upon journalists to play their due role for the overall development of the country.

He said, the slogan-Information is Strength-has initiated the media as a development component in the contemporary world.

Department of Mass Communication (DMC) and the United Nation's Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) jointly organised the workshop.

Chaired by DMC Director General Abdul Mannan, the inaugural function was addressed by UNFPA Deputy Country Director Ponchai Sucitta and Director of DMC Sawapan Kumar Bhaumic.

Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Director General of PIB Nazrul Islam, Director General of Department of Films and Publications Kamrunnahar and former principal information officer (PIO) Harun-ur-Rashid were present.

The Information Secretary termed the present decade as the era of free flow of information saying that information is capable to improve the living standards of people.

He said information could inspire people to work, educate them for leading healthy and comfortable life and give them new sources of knowledge to adapt to the changes of modern days.

Jamil Osman said the government was giving utmost importance to three vital issues like reproductive health, gender parity and HIV/AIDS to attain the millennium development goals (MDGs) by 2015.