Breastfeeding protects infants, say experts

RAWALPINDI: Breastfeeding provides protection to infants and prevents them from deadly diseases said the District Health Authority (DHA) Acting Chairman Dr Naveed Akhtar addressing a seminar regarding mother-child health in connection with World Breastfeeding Week on Thursday.

He added that like other parts of the world and the country, breastfeeding week would be celebrated in Rawalpindi district from August 1 to August 7 to encourage the practice among mothers and improve health of babies. In this regard, he said that different seminars and awareness walks would be organised too.

Dr Akhtar suggested that infants should be breastfed within one hour of their birth. He also recommended that in the first six month, mothers should exclusively breastfeed children since it helps strengthen their immune system and also prevents numerous diseases. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2019.