Sindh Caretaker Minister for Health, Education and Population Welfare Sindh, Dr. Saadia Rizvi said that the rate of breastfeeding was only around 37% in Sindh and that was one of the main reasons why children were suffering from diarrhea and other childhood diseases in the province. She expressed these views at the Breastfeeding Promoters Initiative Program organized by Nutrition’s Support Program held recently at Dow University of Health Sciences.
Dr. Saadia Rizvi urged the health care providers to counsel and convince mothers of the advantages of breastfeeding in order to encourage the practice. She said that the pediatricians and government departments should collaborate and coordinate to encourage breastfeeding. Dr Rizvi also offered full support of Government of Sindh for this task.
Program Manager of the Sindh Nutrition Support Program, Dr. Zahoor Baloch briefed the audience about the program. He said that Pakistan Pediatric Association, Society of Obstetricians, UNICEF and Nutrition Support Program were collaborating on the project. He said that in the first phase of the program, 12 districts of Sindh including Khairpur, Ghotki, Umerkot, Nousheroferoz, Sanghar and six districts of Karachi will be covered. He stated that during the program, all the health staff linked with delivery and care of child will be trained and subsequently they will counsel and support the mother in breastfeeding,
Prof. Jamal Raza, President, Pakistan Pediatric Association – Sindh presented action points for improving the breastfeeding situation in Sindh. He said that the media should help them spread awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding. He also said that the current act and law dictating infant feeding should be improved and updated according to World Health Organisation (WHO) Code of 2016 which banned the advertisement of all under 3 years milk formulas.
Prof. Sadia Paul, President, Society of Obstetricians explained the role to be played by health workers in the Breastfeeding Promoters Initiative Program.
Dr. Mazhar of UNICEF offered all support and expedites for this program and other programs directed towards improving child health in Sindh.
On the occasion, Prof. Kartar Principal Dow Medical Collage spoke on the leading role of Dow University in vending community Health Programs. He offered full support by Dow university in future programs as well.
