‘Breastfeeding essential to avoid childhood diseases’
There is a dire need to promote breastfeeding practices in the country to protect children from various medical complications, said Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Faisal Sultan.
He was addressing the participants of an awareness walk on breastfeeding on Wednesday.
“Breastfeeding is the best source of nourishment for infants and young children and a proven lifesaving strategy that helps protect children against many childhood illnesses,” he said. It was a well-established fact that breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests, were less likely to be obese or overweight, and were less prone to non-communicable diseases later in life.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was even more important to find innovative solutions to ensure that access to these essential services was not disrupted and that families continue to receive the breastfeeding counseling they need, he said.
Dr Sultan said that there was no alternative to promoting breastfeeding to build a healthy nation. The government has taken all necessary initiatives to observe the breastfeeding week to renew the commitment of the health authorities in promoting breastfeeding as a fundamental right of all mothers and children.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2021.