Dhaka, Aug 3 (UNB) -- The World Breastfeeding Week will be observed across the country on August 7, aiming to ensure the breastfeeding of all babies up to the age of six months.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will formally inaugurate the World Breastfeeding Week-2011 at a function at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city on Sunday.

The function will be organised by the Institute of Public Health and Nutrition (IPHN).
Talking to UNB, IPHN director Prof Dr Fatima Parveen Chowdhury said necessary funds have been allocated to successfully observe the World Breastfeeding Week at all district and upazila headquarters. Earlier, the IPHN director said exclusive breastfeeding until the age of six months can greatly help reduce malnutrition among babies. “Colostrums are the live vaccines for the children.”
She said mothers should start breastfeeding their babies within one hour of birth and exclusively breastfeed them up to the age of six months to keep babies free from malnutrition.

Dr Fatima Parveen said children after six months of age should be given homemade foods along with breastfeeding for the proper growth of their bodies.

Describing breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for babies, she said if the malnutrition problems could be solved for the children, the budget for the health sector would be reduced by 50 percent.