‘Nutritive diet a must for pregnant mothers’

Speakers at a field-visit ceremony here on Wednesday underscored the need for serving nutritive diet to the destitute pregnant mothers for ensuring maternal and newborn health for the national interest.
They viewed that the improved diet could reduce the existing rate of mother and infant mortality during giving birth to baby at a greater extent.
They made this observation while visiting the activities of serving food to 50 pregnant mothers programme being implemented by ‘Painted Children’, an international voluntary organization, at Shreerampur slum in the metropolis.
Local lawmaker Fazley Hossain Badsha, who visited the activities accompanied by others concerned, termed the program for proving standard diet to the underprivileged pregnant mothers as time-fitting.
“Creating a supportive environment for maternal and newborn health requires challenging the social, economic and cultural barriers that perpetuate gender inequality and discrimination,” he added.
He, however, mentioned that greater involvement of men in maternal and newborn healthcare and in addressing gender discrimination and inequalities is also important to establishing a supportive environment.
Country Director of the programme Dr Mohiuddin briefed the visitors on how to serve food to the mothers and its ultimate goal.
He stated that around 1,500 women die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth in the country every day due to lack of nutritive diet.
He revealed that many other women, who survive childbirth, suffer from pregnancy-related injuries, infections, diseases and disabilities, often with lifelong consequences.
Dr Mohiuddin said adequate nutrition for adolescent girls and pregnant woman is pivotal for the health and survival prospects of both mothers and newborns. “Clean delivery practices are also vital to safeguard the health facilities of mothers and newborns from infections,” he added.
“She frequently faces risks for herself and her baby when she becomes pregnant”, he added.
He refers to a growing consensus that is emerging on the importance of improving reproductive health services for young people in particular.
Civil Surgeon Dr Jahurul Islam, President of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Abu Bakker Ali, Councilor of Rajshahi City Corporation Bilkish Banu and Prof Rozety Naznin of Rajshahi University College were, among others, were present.

Courtesy of BSS via The New Nation