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Protection of Breastfeeding is single most effective measure in combating infant mortality in Pakistan
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A preparatory meeting of National Alliance for Promotion & Protection of Breastfeeding (NAPBF) represented by 22 civil society organizations was called on Thursday 15th July at a local hotel to prepare the agenda of activities that will be unveiled during the breastfeeding week on the theme Breastfeeding – Just 10 Steps! The Baby-Friendly Way, August 1 to 7. this meeting was presided by
The alliance partners, ranging from health professionals, civil society activists from NRSP, SUNGI, Save the Children UK, Save the Children US, Batool Foundation, Plan Pakistan, BEHBUD Association of Paksitan, Rasti Pakistan, PAIMAN, Family Health Hospital, IMDC, UNICEF, Micronutrient Initiative, WFP, Holy Family hospital, Social Security hospital, Poly clinic and Fauji Foundation hospital participated in the meeting and pledged to fully participate in the BF Week to highlight the importance of breastfeeding.
Dr Baseer Khan Achakzai, the Deputy Director General Nutrition Wing, Ministry of Health said that malnutrition was the key reason for a majority of deaths among children of Pakistan. “More than 50 per cent child mortality can be attributed to causes related to malnutrition,”.Addressing the meeting he further said that the government is committed to implement the Breastfeeding (BF) Rules which were notified in October 2009.
The DDGsaid government does play its due role and urged the civil society and health professionals to participate in promoting breastfeeding among mothers.
To a question regarding total ban on the breastmilk substitute (BMS) formulas, DDG rejected the idea and said the breastfeeding ordinance of 2002 and subsequent rules can play important role in discouraging the BMS.
Sheeba Afghani of UNICEF said that BF Week is a good opportunity to create awareness among people about the breastfeeding. She said the national alliance has come a long way since its creation and it praises its role in BF Rules notification. Various doctors present on the occasion said that still the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was low in Pakistan and government along with civil society should continue efforts to increase it.
The participants agreed on a set of activities for the global BF Week to commemorate the cause concurrently with more than 140 countries around the world.
Dr Aisha of TheNetwork presented the activities of the Alliance in last two years, contributing to the Protection of breastfeeing. The Nutrition Coordinator emphasized the importance of cooperative consolidated approach by various stakeholders such as Civil Society, Media, Policy makers and health professionals, to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
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