RAJSHAHI, June 13, 2019 (BSS) – About one-third of deaths among children
under five years is for malnutrition while above two-third of the deaths
occurs due to inappropriate feeding practices during the first year of their
birth.
This was told at a meeting on Breast Milk Substitute (BMS) Act, 2013 at
conference hall of Civil Surgeon Office here yesterday.
Speakers said sufficient breastfeeding is of paramount for physical and
mental development of the babies, ensuring supply of essential nutrients. So,
there should be adequate measures to encourage the lactating mothers for
appropriate breastfeeding instead of depending on supplementary feed till
six-month age of their babies.
Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF) and Health, Nutrition and
Population Sector Programme jointly organised the discussion in association
with Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN).
Deputy Director of Department of Family Planning Dr Nasim Akhter, Deputy
Civil Surgeon Dr Brnabas Hasdak and its Chief Statistics Officer Mahbubur
Rashid addressed the meeting as resource persons.
Dr Nasim Akhter said the newborn babies exclusively need first breast milk
within an hour of their birth as it contains nutritious colostrums and
antibodies that make them stronger, enhancing immune system and disease
resistance capacities.
She called for creating social awareness about appropriate breastfeeding
as many mothers still do not know importance of giving first breast milk to
their children.
In his concept paper Md Sakib, divisional officer of BBF, said: “Although
Bangladesh has surpassed the global target of Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF),
it is still far behind in terms of ensuring Infant and Young Child Feeding
(IYCF).”
IYCF is the introduction of nutritionally-adequate and safe complementary
(solid) foods at six months together with continued breastfeeding up to two
years of age or beyond.
Compared to the urban children, the rural children have been found to be
more prone to underdevelopment while the rate of children with stunted growth
is the lowest in Rajshahi division.
He said there are complaints that some companies are marketing baby food
without IPHN registration, providing gifts to doctors or buyers to promote
their products.
“Public awareness is crucial to make people aware about those junk foods,”
he told the meeting.