PHOTO : FILE
To highlight the importance of breastfeeding and its lifelong nutritional impact on the health of children a seminar was held at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims). The event was organised by the Nutrition Wing of Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.
Nutrition Wing Director Dr Baseer Khan Achakzai said the Protection of Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Ordinance was passed in 2002 and its rules were drafted in 2009 after which provincial and federal committees were formed for its implementation. However, enforcement of these rules still remains a challenge due to strong lobby of formula milk manufacturing industry.
Formula milk producers left in conundrum
“Formula milk consumption is increasing while exclusive breastfeeding rate is only 39 per cent that is why we have 44 per cent stunted children which may lead to loss of 2-3% GDP,” he said. Also the IQ level of Pakistani children is compromised due to stunting resultantly the economic generation force would be diminished in a decade, he added.
It was shared that the matter was brought into the notice of the apex court in Lahore registry but due to expensive lawyers hired by the industry and not spending enough by the government the case was adjourned for 2019. They said political cases are heard speedily while the cases of human interest are put on back burner.
Talking about the Code of Breastmilk Substitute and its wider implementation, Pims Executive Director Dr Raja Amjad announced he will approach the Supreme Court of Pakistan for help to discourage the baby food manufacturing industry and its media campaign promoting formula milk.
Dr Baseer pointed out that one major challenge is role of health care providers in prescribing and promoting in-discriminate sale and use of breast milk substitute, formula milk, which is a major threat to life and wellbeing of young children in Pakistan.
The speakers said advertisement and marketing of formula milk is openly going on without check while doctors recommend formula milk when the mothers are healthy and can feed their babies.
Pims head of gynaecology and obstetrics Prof Batool Mazhar said appropriate feeding practices are essential for the nutritional status, growth, development and survival of infants and young children. Infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, and thereafter should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues up to two years and beyond, she said adding this is also stressed upon in the Holy Quran.
The speakers shared the poor health and nutrition indicators of Pakistan which needs the foremost attention of the coming government to invest in it.
The health needs almost triple allocation if we want to reduce the infant and maternal mortality. Legislation regarding child nutrition and protection of breast milk benefits and implementation of these laws at provincial level should be the priority.
It was shared that 49.3 per cent of mothers in Punjab, 59.7 per cent in Sindh, 30.2 per cent in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 49.7 per cent in Balochistan, 43 per cent in AJK and 33.6 per cent in Gilgit-Baltistan are anaemic.
The national infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births is 74 while under-5 mortality rate per 1,000 live births is 89.
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world.
Breastfeeding is the best way to provide infants with the nutrients they need. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding starting within one hour after birth until a baby is six months old. Nutritious complementary foods should then be added while continuing to breastfeed for up to two years or beyond.
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