DHAKA: Safe Motherhood Day is being celebrated across the country on Wednesday with the theme of “Let us ensure safe motherhood”.

On the occasion of the National Safe Motherhood Day-2014 several organizations have chalked out various types of program as usual.

Besides, on the occasion, Health Secretary Niaz Uddin inaugurated a rally around 7:00am at Shahbagh in city that ended at Press Club after parading Teacher Student Centre (TSC) and Doyel Chhatar of Dhaka University.

Officials of health ministry, doctors from home and abroad, nurses and medical students joined in the rally.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim is to inaugurate a fair at the office premises of a private television channel in city’s Tejgoan area on Wednesday morning.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages following the day.

President Abdul Hamid, in his message, said sensing reality government had announced first to observe the Safe Motherhood Day in 1997.

He said mother and child mortality rate have comedown significantly due to different prudent steps undertaken by the government and the country's such success lauded at home and abroad.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said that the government has taken initiative for providing emergency maternity service for reducing child and maternal mortality rates, midwifery training and appointment are given in different health complexes.

Maternity leave has been increased to six months resulting in significant reduction of maternal and child mortality rates, she said adding, "We got recognition both home and abroad for this success and also achieved the UN MDGs prize and the 'South- South Award' for it."

BDST: 1044 HRS, MAY 28, 2014