Daily Times

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.

This Dr Saadia said during her address at the Breastfeeding Promoters Initiative Program organized by Nutrition’s Support Program and others at Dow University, Karachi on Monday.

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.

Baloch said that in the first phase of the program, 12 districts of Sindh including Khairpur, Ghotki, Umerkot, Nonsheroferoz, Sangher 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,

President of the Sindh chapter of Pakistan Pediatric Association Prof Jamal Raza presented action points for improving the breastfeeding situation in Sindh.

During the event, Prof Jamal 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.

Society of Obstetricians President, Prof Sadia Paul 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. Kertar Principal Dow Medical Collage spoke on the leading role of Dow University in vending community Health Programs. He also offered full support from Dow university in future programs as well.

Published in Daily Times, June 26^th 2018.