Malnutrition puts children at measles risk: Minister

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakawat Hossain has said that many children are at increased risk of measles infection due to malnutrition.

Referring to the ongoing measles situation, the minister said, “Many children are more vulnerable to infections because of malnutrition. Ensuring breastfeeding can strengthen children’s immunity and enhance the country’s capacity to combat infectious diseases.”

The minister made the remarks while inaugurating the “World Breastfeeding Week” programme at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in the capital on Saturday.

The theme of this year’s programme, organised by the Institute of Public Health Nutrition, is: “Breastfeeding at the Beginning of Life: Accelerating Sustainable Initiatives.”

Highlighting the importance of breast milk during the first four to five months of a child’s life, Dr Sakawat said, “It is extremely important to provide colostrum to a newborn immediately after birth, as it is the richest source of protein.”

“However, due to the increasing number of deliveries through surgical procedures and a lack of awareness, many children are being deprived of colostrum and breast milk," he added.

The health minister said awareness and emphasis on child care and breastfeeding, which were once strong within families, have declined in many cases due to changes in modern lifestyles.

"Modernisation has also increased various health risks. To overcome this situation, there is no alternative to ensuring that newborns receive colostrum within the first hour after birth," he said.

The minister also called for reducing excessive dependence on commercially available alternatives to breast milk as a substitute for infant nutrition.

To achieve this goal, he instructed the Institute of Public Health Nutrition, civil surgeons, district administrations and local health officials to work together in a coordinated manner. 
 
Meanwhile, three more children died with measles symptoms across Bangladesh in the past 24 hours, while 872 new cases were reported during the same period.

The information was disclosed in the Directorate General of Health Services' (DGHS) regular measles situation report released on Saturday.

According to the DGHS, since March 15, a total of 744 children have died with measles symptoms, while 96 deaths have been laboratory-confirmed as caused by measles. The combined death toll has now reached 840.

The report said 121 new laboratory-confirmed measles cases were detected in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 16,180 since March 15.

During the same period, 751 more people developed measles-like symptoms. Since March 15, the total number of suspected measles cases has risen to 129,061.

The DGHS also reported that 111,674 patients with measles symptoms have been admitted to hospitals since March 15. Of them, 107,397 have recovered and been discharged.