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Workshop on Promotion of Breastfeeding in the Community -
Establishment of and Training of Community BF Support Groups in the Suburban Areas of Lahore
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Organized by:The Network for Consumer Protection, Islamabad
In collaboration with Fatima Memorial System, Lahore
Introduction:
In Pakistan, 400,000 babies die during their first year of life due to diarrhea and Acute Respiratory Infections
(ARI). In Pakistan, 37 per cent of infants below six months are exclusively breastfed and this proportion is very
low as compared to the recommended 100 per cent exclusive breastfeeding for children less than six months.
However, 22% of the neonatal deaths could be prevented if breastfeeding is initiated within first hour by all
mothers. Breastfeeding forms a focal point of infant health and protecting the child from plethora of disease
including diarrhea, ARI and malnutrition. To expand awareness of breastfeeding, to disseminate updated information
on support for breastfeeding mothers and to encourage the creation of optimal conditions for the provision of
mother support in all circles, role of civil society organizations is very important and crucial.
TN views the ordinance as an important step in protecting and promoting BF practices and curtailing the hazards
of breast milk substitutes in Pakistan. It is working with partners and like-minded institutions to support the
effective implementation of the ordinance through creating awareness about the importance of breastfeeding and
the role of the BF ordinance in promoting breastfeeding in Pakistan.
For the last twenty years, scattered efforts do exist to promote, protect and support breastfeeding in Pakistan.
There is an acute need for collated efforts of civil society towards this National cause to have better impact.
In this context, TN formed National Alliance on Promotion of Breastfeeding.
To support the effective implementation of BF ordinance, TN is further linking up with institutions and
organizations working at the grass root level such as Fatima Memorial System, Lahore to train community based
breastfeeding support groups and establish these groups in the suburban areas of Lahore support groups. Community
support groups, BF consultants and BF Counselors have been found effective in promoting BF in the community.
Fatima Memorial System, Lahore is a not-for-profit organization comprising of the Fatima Memorial Hospital
(FMH), FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry, FMH Saida Waheed college of Nursing, FMS Allied Health Sciences
Institute and FMS Community Outreach Program. The FMS Community Outreach Program is being implemented in 7
suburban communities to support integrated community development. The Saida Waheed college of Nursing is a
nursing and midwives training institution in the country offering diploma and graduate training programs.
FMS provided the venue, technical support, invitations to participants and arrangement of refreshments etc
where as The Network provided funds and distribution materials. Agenda of the Workshop is attached for program
details.
Objectives of the workshop
To promote breastfeeding and reduce child morbidity by making available breast feeding expertise at the community
level.
Specific
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Breast Feeding advocacy
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Awareness creation about the Breast Feeding Ordinance 2002
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Training of community-based professionals and encouraging them to establish community support groups
Details of the workshop
The workshop was held at the Auditorium of the Saida Waheed FMH College of Nursing with the theme “Promotion of
Breast Feeding in the Community”.
Mrs. Nighat Durrani, Registrar, PNC was the chief guest of this workshop.
The participants (200) of the workshop were the midwives and nurses from FMH, selected LHWs, Dais and women who
have the status of advisors in their community, from the FMS Community Outreach areas.
This one day activity was divided into two sessions. In the morning session 4 presentations were given and
discussions were held on importance of breast feeding and the breastfeeding ordinance to create awareness among
the participants.
In the afternoon session Mrs Anne van der Wal, Ms Marieke Driessen and Ms Nel Bakker conducted a “Hands on
Breastfeeding training”. 40 participants i.e breastfeeding mothers from the FMS Riwand community and some of the
midwives and nurses from FMS training programs were given practical training on how to help & support mothers
initiate breastfeeding.
The participants took active part in discussions and gave recommendations. Mementoes (shields and certificates)
were presented to the speakers and organizing team.
Ms Rubina Bhatti explained the role of TN in promotion and protection of BF through a presentation. She pointed
out that rules and regulations of BF ordinance 2002 are very much necessary but behaviors of people at community
level are the most important segment to promote the cause of exclusive breastfeeding. We need mass awareness
campaign in which people from all sectors (policy makers, employers, health professionals, LHWs, Dais, senior
mothers) of life need to contribute to this cause.
The Eminent personalities who spoke at the occasions included Mrs Nighat Durrani, Registrar Pakistan Nursing
Council , Mrs Shehla Naeem Zafar, Principal Institute of Nursing Dow University Health Sciences, Karachi,
Mrs Janet MacGregor, Principal Saida Waheed FMH College of Nursing, Mrs Irshad Javed, Director Nursing,
Development and Education FMH, Mrs Nisab Akhtar, Director of Nursing Saida Waheed College of Nursing,
Mrs Shahima Rehman, Chairperson Executive Committee, FMS, Dr. Rehana Nazir, Manager, service delivery &
quality care FPAP, Dr. Rashid Ayub, Assistant Professor FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry, Dr. Naeen Ullah Khan,
Nutrition Officer from UNICEF Lahore.
Recommendation and Suggestions by the participants
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Such type of Excellent Work Shops on Hands on Training and up date Sessions be Reproduced/Held in Future as Well.
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Breastfeeding promotion Support Group to be established for Implementations of recommendations today.
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Awareness campaign in Girl Colleges be Started/as well as in the community.
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In Hospitals-Breastfeeding/Revival Clinics to be established to implement national/WHO Breastfeeding-Guide lines
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TheNetwork for Consumer Protection to conduct similar forums on periodic basis.
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Focal Persons to be appointed.
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Breastfeeding news letter/ Journal to be published.
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Breastfeeding Society of Pakistan to be established.
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Breastfeeding campaigns be launched on national level.
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Local influential persons and politicians be involved esp. females.
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Regular Training workshops for Doctors/ Nurses/Midwifes be arranged in Hospitals.
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Book on Breastfeeding, regular Pamphlets, Hand outs be published.
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