No substitute for breastfeeding
Cease the dominance of formula milk
There is no alternative to mother's milk to promote the physical and mental development and enhance the immune system of a newborn. Until six months of age, only breastfeeding ensures the necessary nutrition for the child and reduces the risk of mortality.
However, in the country, the rate of breastfeeding infants for the first six months is not increasing; rather, in urban areas, this rate is gradually decreasing. Moreover, mothers who want to breastfeed are not receiving correct guidance. On the other hand, recommendations to feed formula milk come from healthcare providers, including doctors and health service providers. As a result, the health and mortality risks of newborns are increasing nationwide, which is very detrimental to the country.
When a child grows up and experiences the light and air of the world, their need for protection arises. During this time, the mother and her breast milk provide complete protection to the child. In this way, mother's milk serves as a symbol of love between the mother and the child. Alongside, a strong bond develops between them. It should be remembered that it is the instinct to seek the mother's breast that children are born with. Therefore, when a child breastfeeds, the risk of illness is minimized.
The World Health Organization and UNICEF state that if newborns are breastfed within the first hour of birth, it could reduce infant mortality by 31%. Globally, around 4 million newborns die each year. Additionally, family expenses increase alongside.
Health experts say that infants who consume formula milk are at a higher risk of contracting various infectious diseases such as diarrhea, pneumonia, bronchitis, meningitis, and allergies. These children are also more prone to high blood pressure and diabetes as they grow older. Mothers who breastfeed, on the other hand, have a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
News reports have revealed instances where parents of hospitalized children are surrounded by representatives of pharmaceutical or formula milk companies as soon as they step out of the doctor's room. They observe whether the doctor prescribes their company's medication or formula milk and even take pictures. Primarily, doctors often receive gifts from formula milk companies. Therefore, representatives of these formula milk companies stand outside hospitals, checking prescriptions to see if doctors have prescribed their company's formula milk.
A joint survey conducted by the World Health Organization and UNICEF titled "How the Promotion of Formula Milk Influences Infant Feeding Decisions" reveals that 98% of mothers who became mothers had a strong desire to exclusively breastfeed their children for the first six months. However, due to the lack of proper guidance, they were unable to do so. In the postpartum period, 60% of healthcare providers recommend giving formula milk to infants. Data suggests that infants born in hospitals are 20% more likely to receive formula milk compared to those born at home.
On the other hand, the promotion of formula milk as an alternative to mother's milk is currently rampant online. Formula milk companies maintain social media pages for communication. Even healthcare providers create content on YouTube providing advice on formula milk. Mothers are encouraged to praise formula milk in various groups. Many mothers opt for formula milk after hearing such praise. However, the existing laws in the country state that advertising formula milk in public or online and labeling formula milk on packaging is a punishable offense. Yet, why such punishable offenses are happening openly is a question to ponder. Those concerned in this regard believe that the lack of effective monitoring by the authorities and the absence of enforcement of penalties contribute to the increasing promotion of formula milk. Furthermore, there have been no instances of anyone being punished for such offenses to date. As a result, powdered milk companies have unrestricted opportunities to advertise and promote their products. Consequently, mothers are influenced by these advertisements.
In such a situation, there is no alternative but to increase awareness among stakeholders about the existing law at the district and divisional levels to reduce the dominance of formula milk. Additionally, there should be provisions for punitive measures against violators of the law to act as deterrents.
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