Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the private sector employers to implement six-month maternity leave for their staff.
"It is very unfortunate that many private sector employers do not allow six-month maternity leave to the expectant mothers working in their organisations, though all the government offices have already implemented it," she said.
The premier was addressing the inaugural function of the national programme arranged to mark the World Breastfeeding Week '2011 at the city's Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the morning.
Hasina in her speech also requested the private sector employers to set up breastfeeding corners for creating ideal environment for the new mothers.
Breastfeeding corners should also be set up at the shopping malls and bus, rail and launch stations, she said, adding that such corners are being set up at all government offices, banks and insurance companies, and semi-government institutions and organisations.
"Babies have to be breastfed properly, which will help them to grow up with the best health. We need talented generations to build Bangladesh as a modern country," she said.
Mentioning the UN award given to Bangladesh for its success in reducing child mortality, Hasina said the country has also been able to reduce maternal mortality rate significantly.
The government has taken steps to appoint 3,000 midwives for ensuring better services to mothers and children, the premier said.
It has already upgraded 17 district hospitals to 250-bed units while the rest district hospitals would be upgraded gradually, she said.
Upazila health complexes are also being developed to 50-bed hospitals from 31 beds, she said, adding that already 206 health complexes have been upgraded to 50-bed hospitals.
Referring to the new appointments of 5,000 doctors, Hasina said soon another 500 doctors and 14,000 health assistants would be appointed.
She further told the function that the government has restarted 11,000 community health clinics across the country and supplying free medicines among the people.
Telemedicine facilities would also be provided to the mass people by these community clinics, the premier said.
This year the World Breastfeeding Week is being observed in Bangladesh with a call to all citizens to speak out on the importance of breastfeeding.
Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque, State Minister for Health Majibur Rahman Fakir, Adviser to the PM Prof Syed Mudasser Ali, Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation Chairperson Dr SK Roy, among others, also spoke at the function.
Source : The Daily Star
