Health experts underscored the need for banning marketing of all artificial baby foods including tinned milk in the country to save the infants from the hazards they face.
They said if the infants up to six months are breastfed instead of allowing them to consume artificial food, it would help them to grow physically and mentally strong besides strengthening their immune system.
One and a half years old Puja of Shanta village in Sharsha upazila in Jessore district is suffering from moderate malnutrition.
Archana, mother of Puja, told BSS that she could not give breast milk to her baby for three months after delivery. During the period, Puja was given milk packed in tin containers, she added.
Asked about breastfeeding, Archana said she has no knowledge on the advantage of breastfeeding. She holds the misconception that milk, other than breast milk, is needed for healthy growth of her child.
Many children like Puja suffer from different magnitude of malnutrition in the area due to inadequate knowledge on breastfeeding.
Professor Dr Khursheed Jahan of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science of Dhaka University said breastfeeding protects children from many diseases like polio, tetanus, diphtheria, hemoria, hemofalius influenza, respiratory infection and any other infections that attack newborn baby. Human milk contains anti- inflammation elements that help other elements to enhance preventive power against diseases.
Dr Md Raisul Haque, Programme Coordinator of BRAC Health Nutrition and Population Programme, said the government passed “Breast milk substitute, baby food, commercially produced complementary baby food and materials for using those food items (Marketing control) bill-2013”.
He said, “We are working for increasing awareness among the people about the proposed law so that it is passed very soon.”
Artificial milks have flooded the market as most of the people prefer to feed their children these milks due to inadequate knowledge about the super advantage of breastfeeding, he added.
Dr Raisul said the government should take immediate step to formulate a law to stop marketing of artificial milk in the name of so called additional nutrition for children.
Dr Monir Hossain, Professor of Dhaka Shishu Hospital, underscored the need for increasing media campaign about breastfeeding and strict enforcement of law in this regard.
He cautioned that infection might occur from bottle-feeding of children while breastfeeding has no such risks at all.
Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF) and BRAC are jointly working for creating awareness among the people about the breastfeeding practice among the mother for healthy growth of their children. They are also working to discourage the mother to give artificial milk to their children.
