Fahmida Hashem
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective and cost-effective ways to save and improve the lives of children everywhere, yielding lifelong health benefits for infants and their mothers. And increasingly, it is clear that breastfeeding is not only the cornerstone of a child’s healthy development; it is also the foundation of a country’s development. In fact, supporting breastfeeding is one of the smartest investments countries can make in the wellbeing of their citizens and thus, in their own long-term strength. In low-middle and high-income countries alike, the benefits for individuals, families and societies include ending preventable child deaths, improving maternal and child health, boosting educational attainment, and increasing productivity.
Yet currently less than 40 per cent of children worldwide are exclusively breastfed for their first six months. This figure has remained relatively unchanged for nearly two decades despite the enormous benefits raising breastfeeding rates would have for families, communities and nations.
Breastfeeding is one of the keys to reducing under-five mortality. Increasing rates of breastfeeding to target levels could save the lives of 820,000 children under 5 to 87 per cent of them infants 6 months old and younger every year. This represents around 13 per cent of all under-five child deaths annually. Breastfeeding also improves long-term health, decreasing the risk of non-communicable diseases, including childhood asthma and obesity. It can reduce the chance of diabetes and heart disease later in life.
Breastfed is an essential part of a healthy early childhood supporting both physical and cognitive development. It is associated with higher cognitive ability, increased I.Q. scores and better learning and literacy outcomes all of which can translate into increased productivity and earnings later in life. The health benefits associated with optimal breastfeeding could save money in healthcare costs each year by greatly reducing hospital admissions for infectious diseases.
And longer duration of breastfeeding protects maternal health, helping reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancers. Exclusive breastfeeding can promote birth-spacing enabling women to delay subsequent pregnancy and empowering them to exercise greater reproductive autonomy, especially in countries and communities where women have limited access to quality contraceptive information and care. In turn, this can increase the ability of women and girls to return to school, and to work outside the home and better support their families.
The Lancet series reports that breastfeeding reduces the incidence of type 2 diabetes by as much as 35 per cent and the incidence of obesity by 13%. This, in turn, reduces the burden on public health systems which frees up resources to be used for poverty alleviation.
Supply of formula for an infant is estimated to costly, and this increases as a baby grows. In low income households these expenses can make the difference between the rest of the family eating sufficient protein or going hungry. This can exacerbate inequality and make it harder for families to depart from poverty.
Breastfeeding prevents malnutrition and obesity and gives children the best start in life, whether the child is born in a high-income or low-income country, to a rich family or a poor one. Mother’s milk is essential for early childhood development, supporting healthy brain development, increased I.Q. scores and better school performance. But up till now too many women in Bangladesh are not receiving the information and support they need to breastfeed successfully. As we observed this World Breastfeeding Week from 01-07 August 2016, we recognized that increased breastfeeding has positive effects on the development of our entire society. So we need to improve breastfeeding practices makes the world healthier, smarter, and more equal. Breastfeeding is a cost-effective way to increase human capital and stimulate economic growth.
If we want we can make faster progress toward all our development goals by better promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding.
Now, as governments around the world develop budgets and action plans to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, breastfeeding must be a policy, programming, and public spending priority. For only greater political commitment matched with practical action can make breastfeeding a part of every child’s healthy start in life, and every society’s healthier, more equitable and thus, more sustainable future.
We need to support, educate and encourage mothers to keep breastfeeding for at least the first 12 months of their baby’s life. Babies need ‘Mom Made’, not ‘Man-Made’ – science proves this conclusively. Because breast milk is not ‘free’, it costs time and commitment; we need to invest more in building a culture of breastfeeding in Bangladesh.
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective and cost-effective ways to save and improve the lives of children everywhere, yielding lifelong health benefits for infants and their mothers. And increasingly, it is clear that breastfeeding is not only the cornerstone of a child’s healthy development; it is also the foundation of a country’s development. In fact, supporting breastfeeding is one of the smartest investments countries can make in the wellbeing of their citizens and thus, in their own long-term strength. In low-middle and high-income countries alike, the benefits for individuals, families and societies include ending preventable child deaths, improving maternal and child health, boosting educational attainment, and increasing productivity.
Yet currently less than 40 per cent of children worldwide are exclusively breastfed for their first six months. This figure has remained relatively unchanged for nearly two decades despite the enormous benefits raising breastfeeding rates would have for families, communities and nations.
Breastfeeding is one of the keys to reducing under-five mortality. Increasing rates of breastfeeding to target levels could save the lives of 820,000 children under 5 to 87 per cent of them infants 6 months old and younger every year. This represents around 13 per cent of all under-five child deaths annually. Breastfeeding also improves long-term health, decreasing the risk of non-communicable diseases, including childhood asthma and obesity. It can reduce the chance of diabetes and heart disease later in life.
Breastfed is an essential part of a healthy early childhood supporting both physical and cognitive development. It is associated with higher cognitive ability, increased I.Q. scores and better learning and literacy outcomes all of which can translate into increased productivity and earnings later in life. The health benefits associated with optimal breastfeeding could save money in healthcare costs each year by greatly reducing hospital admissions for infectious diseases.
And longer duration of breastfeeding protects maternal health, helping reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancers. Exclusive breastfeeding can promote birth-spacing enabling women to delay subsequent pregnancy and empowering them to exercise greater reproductive autonomy, especially in countries and communities where women have limited access to quality contraceptive information and care. In turn, this can increase the ability of women and girls to return to school, and to work outside the home and better support their families.
The Lancet series reports that breastfeeding reduces the incidence of type 2 diabetes by as much as 35 per cent and the incidence of obesity by 13%. This, in turn, reduces the burden on public health systems which frees up resources to be used for poverty alleviation.
Supply of formula for an infant is estimated to costly, and this increases as a baby grows. In low income households these expenses can make the difference between the rest of the family eating sufficient protein or going hungry. This can exacerbate inequality and make it harder for families to depart from poverty.
Breastfeeding prevents malnutrition and obesity and gives children the best start in life, whether the child is born in a high-income or low-income country, to a rich family or a poor one. Mother’s milk is essential for early childhood development, supporting healthy brain development, increased I.Q. scores and better school performance. But up till now too many women in Bangladesh are not receiving the information and support they need to breastfeed successfully. As we observed this World Breastfeeding Week from 01-07 August 2016, we recognized that increased breastfeeding has positive effects on the development of our entire society. So we need to improve breastfeeding practices makes the world healthier, smarter, and more equal. Breastfeeding is a cost-effective way to increase human capital and stimulate economic growth.
If we want we can make faster progress toward all our development goals by better promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding.
Now, as governments around the world develop budgets and action plans to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, breastfeeding must be a policy, programming, and public spending priority. For only greater political commitment matched with practical action can make breastfeeding a part of every child’s healthy start in life, and every society’s healthier, more equitable and thus, more sustainable future.
We need to support, educate and encourage mothers to keep breastfeeding for at least the first 12 months of their baby’s life. Babies need ‘Mom Made’, not ‘Man-Made’ – science proves this conclusively. Because breast milk is not ‘free’, it costs time and commitment; we need to invest more in building a culture of breastfeeding in Bangladesh.
(Fahmida Hashem is a nutritionist)
