RAJSHAHI: Health experts at a sensitisation meeting yesterday said proper enforcement of Breast Milk Substitute Act (BMS) will contribute a lot towards substantial and sustainable reduction of child mortality and morbidity rate and sound health of the children, reports BSS.

They underscored the need for ensuring breastfeeding corners in hospitals, health complexes and clinics so that mothers can breastfeed their babies any time without any hesitation. Mortality rate of children can be reduced to a great extent if the new born infants can be brought under breastfeeding within an hour of their birth.

The observation came at an orientation on BMS Act, 2013 at the conference hall of Divisional Directorate of Health in the city yesterday. Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF) and National Nutrition Service (NNS) jointly organised the programme.

Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi division Aminul Islam addressed the meeting as chief guest with Divisional Director-in-Charge Dr Gopendra Nath Acharya in the chair.

Assistant Directors of Health Dr Abdur Rahman and Dr Ismat Ara, Assistant Director of Medical Sub Depot Dr Masuma Monjura and Assistant Director of NNS Dr Abu Yousuf spoke as resource persons.

During his concept paper presentation, Md Sakib, divisional officer of BBF, said: "Although Bangladesh has surpassed the global target of Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF), it is still far behind in terms of ensuring Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF)."

IYCF is the introduction of nutritionally-adequate and safe complementary (solid) foods at six months together with continued breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond.

Compared to the urban children, the rural children have been found to be more prone to underdevelopment while the rate of children with stunted growth is the lowest in Rajshahi division.

He said there are complaints that some companies are marketing baby food without IPHN registration, providing gifts to doctors or buyers to promote their products.

"Public awareness is crucial because we have seen children of the well-off families also suffer from malnutrition," he told the meeting.

Dr Gopendra Nath Acharya said promotion of EBF for the first six months of life has been estimated to be the most effective preventive strategy for saving the lives of young children in low-income families.

He suggested full-length implementation of BMS Act, 2013 through conducting frequent mobile court against the law violators.

Doctors, government officials and leaders of civil society including the journalists joined the meeting.