Aids Control programme Manager, Ministry of National health Services, Dr. Baseer Khan Achakzai, said that One of the most important rights of young children which guarantees their survival and wellbeing throughout life and that is breastfeeding. 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. This is also stressed upon in Quran “That Mothers may breastfeed their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing”. While he was addressing breastfeeding seminar today in Islamabad.
Dr. Baseer Said World Health Assembly under UN has also set targets to improve breastfeeding and Government of Pakistan has also committed to adhere to these global targets set in 69th World Health Assembly.
Government of Pakistan and Ministry of NHSR&C is cognizant of the fact and the need thereof in this respect. In 2002 necessary legislation for protection and promotion of breast feeding was made through “The protection of breast-feeding and child nutrition ordinance, 2002” and in 2009 the breast feeding rules were also formulated and endorsed by the Health Ministry. However enforcement of these rules still remains a challenge. It is heartening to note that Federal and Provincial Infant feeding boards are also active now and Infant &Young Child feeding strategy 2016 has also been approved by my ministry. However we also have to work on the creation of awareness among masses which is not very easy.
Dr. Baseer pointed out one major challenge and that 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.
Dr. Baseer said that civil society and parliamentarians have to work hard for implementation of International code of marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes, 1981 approved by the World Health Assembly and must take all possible measures to protect and promote breastfeeding in all circumstances.
He also urged upon development partners, civil society, media and health care community to join hands with Government and stand firmly to restore the right of breastfeeding to children of Pakistan as this is our common stance and is beyond any difference. As far as Government is concerned we will take all possible measures to enforce BMS code and breastfeeding ordinance with visible action against all responsible.
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