The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have released a joint report on breast feeding immediately after birth.It can save the lives of 820,000 children.
Why Breast Milk is Necessary
Breast milk contains the best nutrients for the baby.Which makes the baby strong and healthy and it is a complete food for the newborn baby.
It is rich in Vitamin A.It also contains essential fatty acids that are important for the development of the newborn's brain, eyes and blood vessels and are high in protein.Especially proteins that have the ability to control infection.
Breast Milk Benefits
Breast milk also contains anti-infective ingredients that protect infants from various diseases.Breast milk helps protect babies from hand, respiratory and ear infections.As well as inflammation of the meninges and urinary tract infections.
Then the mother herself is protected from many diseases due to breastfeeding.Such as breast cancer and fullness of bones, etc.
Breast feeding and Pakistan
According to the World Health Organization report, only 37.7% of mothers in Pakistan breastfeed their babies for six months after birth.As a result, 44% of the country's children have developmental problems.
However, according to the National Nutrition Survey of Pakistan, the rate of breast feeding within the first hour of birth in the country increased from 40% to 45.8% in the first hour of 2018 as compared to 2011.
National Nutrition Survey of Pakistan Reports
According to the survey, in the first hour of childbirth at the provincial level, 61% of mothers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 44% in Punjab, 50% in Sindh and 20% in Balochistan breastfed their babies after birth.
WHO Report
According to the WHO, this rate of breast feeding mothers is insufficient as only four out of ten children are currently completely dependent on breast milk.
Dr. Samina Kamal, a gynecologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, says that according to conservative estimates, the situation with regard to the rate of breast feeding is not satisfactory.
Dr. Samina, 2.7 million children under the age of five are malnourished annually in developing countries.One of the main reasons for this is that mothers do not breastfeed their babies from an early age.
Malnutrition Causes Various Diseases
"Malnutrition causes various diseases in children because their immune system is very weak," she says.Such children look younger than their age, because their development is not age-appropriate while their mental abilities are also declining.
Rituals are also an Obstacle to Breast feeding
Ratna Santosh hails from Shikarpur district in Sindh province.She says that according to local custom, the baby is breastfed shortly after birth instead of breast milk.
He said that this is done because he has heard from his elders that the yellow milk that comes in the beginning is harmful for the baby.So the baby is given goat's milk.
Dr. Masooma of Fatima Bai Maternity Home says that it is not true to think that the yellow milk that comes in the beginning is harmful to the baby, but it is full of antibodies and nutrients that increase the immunity of children against diseases. Is.While the milk of a goat or any other animal is not easily digested by the baby.
Dr. Masooma, there are many reasons, including such poor information, due to which mothers are less likely to breastfeed their babies.
"We have seen that many women do not breast feed their babies in the first hour, largely because of years-old customs in their families or areas," she said.They believe that initially feeding the baby honey or herbs or goat's milk is more nutritious than mother's milk.While this idea is physically wrong.Many mothers breastfeed their babies for a maximum of six months.Many working women use formula milk for work.While many women stop breastfeeding after six or seven months due to domestic chores.
Legislation to Promote Breast feeding in Pakistan
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has unanimously passed the 'Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Protection of Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Act 2015'.Which obliges formula milk producers to seek permission to market and sell their products.Also, people cannot offer bottled or packaged milk as a substitute for breast milk.
In addition, the Sindh Protection and Promotion of Breastfeeding and Child Protection Act 2013 is in force in Sindh.According to which no person or individual can claim that their product is a substitute for or better than breast milk.
No product can be sold in Sindh unless it is in accordance with the law and act of the province.
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