Breastfeeding protects infants, say experts

As many as 40% of children under five years of age across country reportedly stunted

FAISALABAD:

The lack of breastfeeding wa causing stunting growth and malnutrition in infants, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan.

He was addressing an awareness seminar on breastfeeding in connection with world breastfeeding week which was arranged by the Institute of Home Sciences in collaboration with UAF.

Dr Khan revealed that as many as 40pc of children under the age of five years in the country were stunted.

He stated that breastfeeding reduce stunting in children and it could also save thousands of newborns’ lives.

UAF Faculty of Food nutrition and Home Sciences Dean Dr Masood Sadiq Butt said that breastfeeding protects mothers from breast cancer, diabetes and blood pressure.

Allied Hospital Faisalabad Nutritionist Dr Surraya Ikhtiar said that we had to develop the action plan to promote the breastfeeding for the better health of the children rather than promotion of formula milk.

Read More: ‘Lack of breastfeeding causing stunted growth

She said, “Good food and a healthy lifestyle must be advocated to prevent various diseases that affect society.”

Dr Iqra from National Hospital said that breastfed children may have a higher level of intelligence and, as adults, earn more than their peers.

She further said that unfortunately, the use of formula milk was zwidely accepted and even encouraged via advertisements. She claimed that prescribing formula milk without adequate reason was causing malnutrition in children.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2021.