A DEEP concern was observed in an interlocution organized by a national daily on Monday as to the challenges faced in enforcing the law related to baby formula in the country. It was generally acknowledged that Bangladesh adopted one of the ‘best’ laws of the world to check aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes. The parliament in September 2013 enacted a bill to regulate sale of baby food and food supplements, inserting a provision for punishment for the suppliers of adulterated formulas. The law completely banned any form of advertising of baby food targeting lactating infants. We share the concern of the experts as we cannot support any loophole which retards the ability of our future citizens to grow.
Bangladesh is home to a huge number of malnourished children with nearly half of its Under-5 children being underweight and stunted. The nutrition experts were categorical that malnutrition of children under the age of five could be eradicated within just five years if ‘exclusive breastfeeding’ and homemade balanced cereal food for children upto six months old were ensured. Awareness about providing colosprum as a first meal within the first hour of birth can save millions from the risk of vulnerability to many pediatric complexities. Breast milk containing 110 nutrient components has no substitute. It helps the baby’s immune system, stimulates intellectual development and nourishes health so that the child grows up properly. Therefore, the substitute formula foods flooding the market are obviously detrimental to the infants’ natural growth – both physical and intellectual. The roundtable demanded immediate implementation of the law regarding baby formula production, sale, marketing and promotion. Awareness among the various stakeholders including the media was emphasized in this regard. Doctors, health workers can play a vital role to make the mothers conscious.
The Vice-Chancellor of the BSMMU cited statistics about 2500 pediatric and gyneco specialists in Bangladesh who oversee around 1 crore 80 lakh families per year while attending the patients. These health experts can inform the public about the bad effects of formula foods. Some people consider providing formula food to babies as a prestige-symbol. But to build up a new trend like that of anti-smoking, mothers should avoid the tendency to use formula food as breastfeeding is helpful not only for the baby but also for the mothers. It keeps the mother fit, delays pregnancy, reduces breast cancer risks. Artificial lactose and other substitute consumptions increase obesity among the children. The seemingly beauty conscious moms should be aware of it.
None should forget that today’s babies are tomorrow’s adults. And the nation needs a proactive generation of good health and intellect, not obese citizens. We hold the view that the government should initiate immediate measures to free our kids from the traps of the absurd propaganda of the formula food companies.
