Early diagnosis can cut congenital birth defects for which 4.40 lakh children die each year in the low and middle-income generating countries, including Bangladesh, said speakers at a seminar yesterday.
Dr Fawzia Hossain, Bangladesh Representative of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG), said the main causes of congenital birth defect are genetic, radiation, environmental pollution and different maternal diseases.
“But this could be prevented by taking folic acid during pregnancy,” she said at the inaugural ceremony of the seminar at a city hotel.
Bangladesh Representative Committee, RCOG organised the seminar for setting standards to improve women’s health.
About 3.7 percent children die of congenital birth defects in the developing countries, including Bangladesh, in a year and the figure is increasing day by day, said Prof MS Akbar MP, also chairman of Red Crescent Society, as the chief guest.
National Prof MR Khan, also president of Bangladesh Perinatal Society, and Prof Pran Gopal Datta, vice chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, also spoke at the seminar.
