Breast feeding children saves women from cancer, claims Punjab health minister

Khawaja Imran Nazir of the opinion that stunting growth of Pakistani children linked to consumption of formula milk

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir on Monday claimed there was a need to promote breast feeding in the society because it saved women from breast cancer, according to reports.

The remarks from the minister came at a local hotel during a seminar related to Punjab Protection of Breast Feeding and Child Nutrition Act.

Nazir said that the mother's feed was the best diet for the baby and fulfilled all the nutritional needs, while formula milk could not be used as an alternate to it.

According to the minister, a lot of children in Pakistan were having health problems which were linked to their basic nutritional needs.



Khawaja Imran Nazir said that there was a full ban in place on the promotion and publicity of formula milk in public and private hospitals, and if a doctor prescribed formula milk unnecessarily, action would be taken against him.

"We have to promote breast feeding in our society, it not only saves women from breast cancer but also makes children, who take mother feed, mentally and physically healthier than other children," he was quoted as telling the audience of the seminar.

The minister added that the Punjab government had approved the Protection of Breast Feeding and Child Nutrition Rules, and the law would be implemented in letter as well as in spirit.



"In Pakistan, infant mortality rate is very high which is alarming. According to a research, malnutrition damages one country's economy by 12 to 13 per cent, we will have to pay special attention to overcome it," he stated.

Nazir also informed the gathering that the Punjab Government had established Stabilisation Centers in District level hospitals for treatment of such children.