Bangladesh Medical University vice-chancellor Professor Dr FM Siddiqui at a seminar in Dhaka on Wednesday said that the Kangaroo Mother Care model was spreading light of hope in reducing mortality, preventing diseases and saving lives of new-borns, including premature or immature and low-weight new-borns.
He made the remarks while addressing as chief guest at the seminar organised at the Shaheed Dr Milton Hall of the university on the occasion of International Kangaroo Mother Care Awareness Day 2026, said a press release.
Presided over by BMU’s neonatology department chairperson Professor Dr Md Abdul Manan, BMU pro-VC, research and development, Professor Dr Md Mujibur Rahman Hawlader; treasurer Professor Dr Nahrin Akhtar; and dean of the faculty of paediatrics Professor Dr Md Atiar Rahman were present as special guests at the seminar.
BMU’s assistant professor Dr Rumpa Moni Chowdhury presented the scientific paper at the seminar. Mentioning that media can play a crucial role in popularising the KMC model, Professor Dr FM Siddiqui said, ‘The contribution and importance of KMC in saving the lives of new-borns has been scientifically proven and it is important to discuss it in the policy forum and implement it at the national level.’
Kangaroo Mother Care is an exemplary and ideal method to save the lives of premature and low-birth-weight new-borns, noted Professor Abdul Manan, urging, ‘All stakeholders must work together to implement KMC.’
Dr Rumpa Moni said that KMC reduced neonatal mortality and the risk of death up to six months of age. ‘It helps prevent hypothermia, hypoglycaemia and serious infections or sepsis. It also helps in early initiation of breastfeeding, increasing the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and good weight gain of the baby.’
‘KMC is a protocol-based care method for premature and low birth weight new-borns, which is based on skin-to-skin contact between the new-born and the mother or caregiver,’ noted Dr Rumpa Moni, adding that training neonatal nurses in conjunction with maternal care and appropriate measures to immediately initiate KMC in health facilities could play an important role in reducing neonatal mortality.
The World Health Organisation strongly recommends that KMC should be started as soon as possible after birth and should not wait for the baby to be stabilised.
The Mother Newborn Care Unit is another care model that does not allow any separation between mother and baby from birth to discharge from the hospital, informed the physicians.
