DHAKA: State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Zahid Malik Swapan has said that the maternal death has declined 40% in the last one decade in Bangladesh.

He revealed the information at a press conference at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday (December 27).

The press conference was arranged to inform about program on ‘Family Welfare Services and Promotion Week' which is going to held from December 30 to January 4.

This year’s slogan is ‘Let’s build a planned family, prevent maternal death.’

According to Zahid Malik, family-planning program is credited with 25% of the contribution.

Currently, about 50 percent of the delivery is carried out by the skilled service providers. In 2010, the rate was 27%.

Zahid Malik said, “Firstly child marriage has to be prevented in order to form a planned family after reducing maternal death rate. Our efforts will continue to reduce child marriage to the number 0, though it is still very common.”

“Secondly, we are to ensure protein for pregnant women. A total of 18% mother suffers from malnutrition even now, that is why deformed children are born,” he said.

BDST: 1645 HRS, DEC 27, 2017
AH/EHJ