Breastfeeding can reduce infant mortality: Experts
Friday, 31 October 2008
Breastfeeding could cut infant mortality in Bangladesh by one third saving the lives of 314 children everyday from killer diseases like diarrhoea and phneumonia.
Experts said this at a national roundtable discussion on 'Secure Nutrition Diet: Save Children's Lives' organised by Save the Children UK in cooperation with Eminence at the Jatiyo Press Club in the city Thursday, reports UNB.
The expert said breastfeeding is enough to meet all the nutritional needs of a baby under the age of six-month without requiring any supplementary milk from outside.
CWCH Chairman Prof MQK Talukder presided over the roundtable where National Prof MR Khan was present as the chief guest.
In a keynote paper Eminence Chief Executive Dr Shamim Hayder Talukder said that in Bangladesh, the total value of baby milk and baby food imports is almost 16 million pound per year, which is 100 times more than the government of Bangladesh can afford to invest in supporting breastfeeding promotion.
The rate of bottle fed babies under six months of age in urban and rural areas are 49.8 per cent and 39.7 per cent respectively.
Dr Talukder said that despite a UN approved code to regulate the marketing of baby milk and baby food, manufacturers continue to make a mockery of the rules and are still promoting their products unethically without sanction.
Companies still openly market certain brands of baby food and drinks that flavoured baby water and juices, for babies from four months, contravening World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance, which recommends exclusive breastfeeding until six months, he mentioned.
National Professor MR Khan said that only by increasing the rate of breastfeeding could save children from diseases.
Experts said this at a national roundtable discussion on 'Secure Nutrition Diet: Save Children's Lives' organised by Save the Children UK in cooperation with Eminence at the Jatiyo Press Club in the city Thursday, reports UNB.
The expert said breastfeeding is enough to meet all the nutritional needs of a baby under the age of six-month without requiring any supplementary milk from outside.
CWCH Chairman Prof MQK Talukder presided over the roundtable where National Prof MR Khan was present as the chief guest.
In a keynote paper Eminence Chief Executive Dr Shamim Hayder Talukder said that in Bangladesh, the total value of baby milk and baby food imports is almost 16 million pound per year, which is 100 times more than the government of Bangladesh can afford to invest in supporting breastfeeding promotion.
The rate of bottle fed babies under six months of age in urban and rural areas are 49.8 per cent and 39.7 per cent respectively.
Dr Talukder said that despite a UN approved code to regulate the marketing of baby milk and baby food, manufacturers continue to make a mockery of the rules and are still promoting their products unethically without sanction.
Companies still openly market certain brands of baby food and drinks that flavoured baby water and juices, for babies from four months, contravening World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance, which recommends exclusive breastfeeding until six months, he mentioned.
National Professor MR Khan said that only by increasing the rate of breastfeeding could save children from diseases.