Promoting breastfeeding: Parliament House to have a nursing room

Ministry of NHSRC to send in a formal request today

ISLAMABAD: In an effort to promote breastfeeding, Secretary National Assembly has agreed in principle upon establishing a designated room in the Parliament House for nursing mothers.

Talking to The Express Tribune Director Nutrition in the Ministry of National Health Services Dr Baseer Khan Achakzai said that the secretary office has asked the Ministry of NHSRC to write a formal letter for this purpose by Tuesday (today).

“After receiving a formal request we will start working on establishing a room in the Parliament House,” he said.

Achakzai added that the room will be established by the Ministry of NHSRC in collaboration with the UNICEF.

For the past 15 years, the rate of breastfeeding has been stagnant at 38 per cent and is stated to be one of the major causes of acute malnutrition in the country.

“It is going to be an important step towards addressing the menace of malnutrition and improving the rate of breastfeeding in Pakistan,” said Dr Achakzai. He said it has been noted that the trend of breastfeeding among educated mothers is low.

“Due to the absence of nursing rooms many mothers prefer bottle feeding,” he explained.

The establishment of a nursing room in the Parliament House will also encourage women parliamentarians to establish such designated rooms in the government and private offices within their respective constituencies, he said.

Sharing details, he said the room will be equipped with necessary items like a refrigerator, microwave, proper changing and washing areas for babies.

“There are certain protocols for establishing a designated room for young nursing mothers which will be followed while establishing this room,” he said.

Later the idea will be shared with the banks, airports, cellular companies among others, he said.

“Focus will also be on making child-friendly hospitals where young mothers will be counselled over the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and early initiation of it,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2016.