The International Day of the Midwife  2018 will be observed in the country today as elsewhere in the world, reports BSS.

The day is being observed as a mark of recognition to the contribution of midwives to saving lives of women, adolescent girls and newborns, sometimes under very difficult circumstances, said a press release.

To mark the day, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages.

In his message, President M Abdul Hamid laid emphasis on increasing the numbers of trained and skilled midwives in the country to reduce mother and child mortality rates at desired level.  "I believe it is possible to check deaths of mother and children through creating huge mass awareness, educating mothers and building skilled midwives," he said.