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Sensitization Session with Healthcare Professionals for Promotion & Protection of Breastfeeding
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Islamabad, August 5, 2009: To sensitize the healthcare professionals to play their effective role in promoting and
protecting breastfeeding, The Network for Consumer Protection organized a seminar in PIMS here on Wednesday.
From 1-7 August 2009, more than 150 countries worldwide are celebrating World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) for the
18th year. The theme of World Breastfeeding Week for this year is "Breastfeeding - a vital emergency response.
Are you ready?” It highlights the need to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in emergencies for infant
and young child survival, health and development.
Dr. Sadia Assad, Programme Coordinator, TheNetwork for Consumer Protection while highlighting the objectives of
the meeting, said the role of healthcare professionals is very important as they are the bridging link between
the government and the general public. They are the main implementers of the BF ordinance in the healthcare
facilities and act as effective monitors for the promotion and protection of BF practices.
Executive Director, PIMS, Prof. Mahmood Jamal, Chief Guest of the meeting, said that the indicators show that the
rates of almost every healthcare issues including breastfeeding are coming down. This is the core responsibility
of health professionals to show our commitment to address this serious issue. How can we guide anyone else in
society, till we will not improve our practices? We should be committed and set ourselves as role models for
other to address this sensitive issue.
Dr. Tabish Hazir, Prof. Pediatrics, PIMS highlighted the current Breastfeeding practices in Pakistan. He said,
“The Exclusive Breastfeeding rate in Pakistan is the lowest among South Asian region, which is 37.1 percent only.
Where as the rate of bottle-feeding is higher in Pakistan in south Asian region, which is 32.1 percent. These
indications are very thought-provoking for the health professionals as this is our responsibility to create
awareness and set ourselves as role model for others”.
He said that World Breastfeeding Week will be a good opportunity to examine the status of the breastfeeding in
Pakistan. All IYCF (Infant and Young Child Feeding Strategy) indicators in Pakistan are undesirably low and need
to be improved. There is a need of an integrated approach to IYCF communication from pregnancy to early infancy.
Dr. Shahid Awan, neutrition Officer, UNICEF, has given a brief presentation on ‘Importance of BF and Emergency
Response’. He said that Children are among the most vulnerable groups during emergencies, and infants are the most
vulnerable of all, due to increased risk of death caused by diarrhea and pneumonia. During emergencies,
uncontrolled donations of breast-milk substitutes may undermine breastfeeding and should be avoided.
He added that we should provide shelter and privacy, adequate food, community support and adequate health
services to the women for breastfeeding in emergency situations to promote breastfeeding practice.
Dr. Salman Qazi, neutrition wing, elaborated that the ‘Protection of Breastfeeding and Young Child Nutrition
Ordinance’ was promulgated in 2002 however its guidelines and rules are yet to be approved. The delay in framing
the rules has created issues related to non-compliance of the ordinance.
Rubina Bhatti, Project Coordinator, TheNetwork for Consumer Protection at the end presented vote of thanks to the
chief guest, speakers and healthcare professionals present at the session.
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