The New Nation - Internet Edition

SPEAKERS at a discussion meeting arranged on the occasion of the World Breastfeeding Week said death rates of infants and children could be reduced much if all the children of the country were breastfed. About 200 children die every day in the country due to malnutrition one of the causes of which is inadequate and improper feeding of breast milk. They termed the neonatal mortality rate of 37 per thousand as unacceptably high. They urged to halve the present rate.

Breast milk including the first drops is an ideal food for the infants. It gives them all nutrients necessary for healthy physical and mental growth. It contains antibodies that protect babies from childhood diseases like diarrhoea and pneumonia and give them lifelong support against blood pressure and cholesterol, overweight, obesity and diabetes. Breastfeeding is good for mothers also. It reduces chances of breast and ovarian cancers. Breastfeeding also strengthens mental attachment of the child to the mother.

A section of mothers refrain from giving babies breast milk due to lack of knowledge about the essentiality of breastfeeding. Out of wrong ideas about body figure or so-called fashion consciousness some of them deprive their babies of breast milk. Husbands should help and encourage their wives in breastfeeding. Counselling on breastfeeding should be arranged for the new mothers. Working women usually cannot feed breast milk due to lack of time as well as day care centres at work places. World Health Organisation suggests at least two months' leave for mothers after delivery for rest and breastfeeding. There is no alternative to mother's milk. No baby formula contains the antibodies that breast milk supplies. Advertisements of infant formula claiming as alternatives to breast milk should be banned forthwith.