Dhaka, Aug. 1 (V7N) – Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain has expressed concern over declining awareness of maternal and child care, saying modern lifestyles have contributed to reduced attention to breastfeeding and child nutrition.

He made the remarks while inaugurating World Breastfeeding Week 2026 at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka on Saturday (Aug. 1).

This year's observance is being held under the theme: "Breastfeed at the Beginning of Life, Accelerate Sustainable Initiatives."

Speaking at the event, the Health Minister said that while society has become more modern, many families no longer devote the same level of care to raising children as they did decades ago.

"Just as those traditional coffee house conversations are no more, our approach to maternal and child care has also changed. Forty to fifty years ago, parents gave greater importance to raising children. Today, many educated and financially well-off families are not providing the same level of care," he said.

The minister also expressed concern over the rising rate of caesarean deliveries in the country and said many mothers are not breastfeeding their newborns despite breast milk being the most nutritious food for infants.

He noted that the importance of breastfeeding is also emphasized in the Holy Quran, including guidance on the recommended duration of breastfeeding.

Sharing observations from visits to hospitals, Sakhawat Hossain said he had seen many children suffering from measles and signs of malnutrition.

"I have visited many wards and found children affected by measles. Many of them are not properly nourished. When I asked their mothers, they said, 'Look at my own condition—I cannot even eat properly myself,'" he said.

The Health Minister announced that the government would implement a year-long action plan to promote breastfeeding across the country.

Under the initiative, awareness programmes will be held in at least one district every month, bringing together civil surgeons, deputy commissioners and upazila-level officials to promote the importance of breastfeeding and encourage it as a vital public health practice nationwide.

END/SMA/AJ