Photo: BSS

RAJSHAHI, Aug 25, 2025 (BSS) - Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants and contains antibodies that protect against infections.

Utmost emphasis should be given on making the breastfeeding campaigns successful for encouraging mothers to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of their infants.

Health experts and others concerned made the observation while addressing a post-rally participatory discussion to mark the World Breastfeeding Week- 2025 here today.
 
The Civil Surgeon Office organized the meeting at its conference hall.

Main theme for World Breastfeeding Week 2025 is "Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems" and the tagline is "Invest in breastfeeding, invest in the future".

This dual theme emphasizes the critical need for long-term, robust support structures and policies that make it easier for mothers to breastfeed, thereby contributing to the health of both people and the planet.

Civil Surgeon Dr Raziul Karim, Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Mahbuba Khatun, Medical Officer Dr Bayezid-Ul-Islam and Deputy Director of Department of Family Planning Abdur Razzaque addressed the meeting as focal persons disseminating their expertise on the issue.

The experts unequivocally called for a wide-ranging awareness campaign to promote the benefits of breastfeeding for infant health and development.

Promotion of breastfeeding is a collective responsibility, with contributions from government bodies, NGOs, development partners, and media.

Additional Superintendent of Police Helena Akter and District Information Officer Nafeyala Nasrin also spoke.

Civil Surgeon Dr Raziul Karim mentioned that sufficient breastfeeding is of paramount importance for physical and mental development of babies as breastfeeding is the best way to provide infants with the nutrients they need.

So, all quarters including the media people should come forward and work together so that every lactating mother is encouraged and motivated to breastfeed their babies instead of depending on any other supplementary feed till their age of six months.

The government has emphasized breastfeeding, including initiatives like providing maternity leave and establishing breastfeeding corners in the hospitals.