'50pc under-five children suffer from malnutrition'

He also said the government is keen to improve the nutritional status of infants and young children and to reduce all forms of malnutrition.

"About half of 10.5 million children under five die from malnutrition every year globally. Exclusive breast-feeding and optimal child feeding practices may prevent deaths of at least one-fifth of them," he added.

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN) co-organised the three-day workshop 'Infant and Young Child Feeding Strategy' in the city.

Speaking as chief guest, Health Minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said exclusive breast-feeding could significantly reduce the risk of child mortality.

Inappropriate feeding practices can be fatal as diarrhoeal diseases and acute respiratory infections account for 55 percent of infant deaths in the world, he added.

According to the findings of recent studies presented at the workshop, the initiation of breast-feeding in the country is only 33 percent while exclusive breast-feeding is 36 percent.

The studies also revealed that the infant mortality rate is 51 out of 1000 and maternal mortality rate is 8.80 percent.

Directorate General of Health Services Dr Mizanur Rahman, WHO representative Dr Suniti Acharya, Nutrition Advisor to WHO Dr Rukhsana Haider and IPHN Director Farida Khatun also spoke at the inaugural session of the workshop held at CIRDAP auditorium.