Awami League leader Nasim vows to reduce child mortality in new election pledge

Health Minister Mohammed Nasim has said the ruling Awami League will make relentless efforts to bring down child mortality to zero as it will take it as a new election pledge.

“I want to make this political commitment that we will keep it in the election manifesto,” Awami League leader Nasim said at a roundtable organised by bdnews24.com in partnership with Unicef that launched a global campaign in February to keep ‘every child alive’.

“This will be our election pledge.”

Bangladesh is acclaimed globally for cutting under-5 deaths. But an estimated 170 children die every day before completing one month of their life in Bangladesh largely due to preventable causes. There are cheaper ways to prevent those deaths.

The roundtable before the general election due in December is seen as a way to press the politicians to make newborn care a promise in their pre-election manifesto.

The discussion highlights the troubling numbers of newborn deaths.

bdnews24.com Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi moderated the roundtable that addressed almost all aspects of newborn care, including the quality of care.

They also stressed making a booklet to make mothers and families aware of child births.

The lack of coordination between the two wings of the health ministry—Directorate General of Health Services and Directorate General of Family Planning—was also discussed.

The rising trend of caesarian deliveries was also discussed as the keynote speaker President of Bangladesh Paediatric Association Prof Mohammad Shahidullah pointed at the fact that those are mostly done at private facilities. Child marriage is also seen as a factor behind the newborn deaths.

Director General for Health Prof Abul Kalam Azad, Director General for Family Planning Kazi Mustafa Sarwar, UNFPA Representative in Bangladesh Dr Asa Torkelsson, Save the Children’s Deputy Country Director Dr Ishtiaq Mannan, Unicef Bangladesh’s Deputy Representative Sheema Sengupta, Chief of the health section Maya Vandenet and Health Manager Md Ziaul Matin were the speakers.

The health minister stressed the need for raising awareness among mothers and family members. He also asked for more funds for the health sector in the budget.

“Many mothers prefer caesarian section. They even do not breastfeed their kids,” he said, adding that in the era of technology, people can easily understand all those issues.