The minister also blamed maternal malnutrition for the unusually severe outbreak this season. Referring to several hospital visits, he said that due to poor nutritional status many mothers are unable to adequately breastfeed their children.
“If we can ensure proper nutrition for mothers in the current context and strengthen their sense of responsibility towards their children, many diseases can be prevented,” he said.
A panel discussion was also held during the seminar, which was attended by Professor Atiyar Rahman, Dean of the Faculty of Pediatrics, Bangladesh Medical University; Professor MD Shafiqul Islam, head of the department of paediatrics at Mitford Hospital; and Zakaria Al Aziz, associate professor in the department of medicine at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Farhana Haq, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine and Public Health at Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College, presented the keynote address on measles prevention.
He stressed on timely vaccination, proper isolation of infected patients and separate use of personal items to prevent transmission of the viral disease.
He also highlighted the importance of breastfeeding, proper nutrition and public awareness for long-term measles prevention.