Steps to discourage import of infant formulas demanded
Friday, 24 October 2008
FE Report
The Bangladesh Breast-Feeding Foundation (BBF) on Thursday called upon the government for immediate measure to discourage import of infant formulas in the country and launch a special campaign to create awareness about the importance of breast-feeding.
The BBF, a socio-welfare organisation, at a press conference urged the authorities to stop marketing of artificial infant foods in the domestic market considering the safety of child health in the country.
Until six months of age, they said, an infant does not require any food other than his or her mother's breast milk.
BBF said breast milk that contains appropriate amount of carbohydrate, protein, and fat is the perfect source of nutrition for infants.
Experts said it also provides the digestive proteins, minerals, vitamins, and hormones that infants need. Breast milk contains valuable antibodies from the mother that may help the baby resist infections.
They said infants are not the only ones who benefit from breast-feeding. Mothers, too, are the recipients of many positive hormonal and physical effects.
Breast-feeding for longer period of time (up to two years) may reduce the risk of pre-menopausal and possibly post-menopausal breast cancer. Also, the risk of ovarian cancer may be lower among women who have breast-fed their children, experts said at the press conference.
Among others, Dr SK Roy, chairperson, Professor Soofia Khatoon, secretary general of BBF and Professor Dr. Abdul Hannan, executive director of Institute of Child and Mother Health (ICMH) Biman Kumar, executive Director of the government's National Nutrition Program and Sarwar Zahan, chairperson of BMS code of BBF and additional consultant of the Financial Express, spoke at the press conference in the city.
The Bangladesh Breast-Feeding Foundation (BBF) on Thursday called upon the government for immediate measure to discourage import of infant formulas in the country and launch a special campaign to create awareness about the importance of breast-feeding.
The BBF, a socio-welfare organisation, at a press conference urged the authorities to stop marketing of artificial infant foods in the domestic market considering the safety of child health in the country.
Until six months of age, they said, an infant does not require any food other than his or her mother's breast milk.
BBF said breast milk that contains appropriate amount of carbohydrate, protein, and fat is the perfect source of nutrition for infants.
Experts said it also provides the digestive proteins, minerals, vitamins, and hormones that infants need. Breast milk contains valuable antibodies from the mother that may help the baby resist infections.
They said infants are not the only ones who benefit from breast-feeding. Mothers, too, are the recipients of many positive hormonal and physical effects.
Breast-feeding for longer period of time (up to two years) may reduce the risk of pre-menopausal and possibly post-menopausal breast cancer. Also, the risk of ovarian cancer may be lower among women who have breast-fed their children, experts said at the press conference.
Among others, Dr SK Roy, chairperson, Professor Soofia Khatoon, secretary general of BBF and Professor Dr. Abdul Hannan, executive director of Institute of Child and Mother Health (ICMH) Biman Kumar, executive Director of the government's National Nutrition Program and Sarwar Zahan, chairperson of BMS code of BBF and additional consultant of the Financial Express, spoke at the press conference in the city.