Substitutes undermine breastfeeding
Aug 02, 2009
THE promotion of breast milk substitutes have undermined breast feeding, health officials have said.
By Irene Nabusoba, Juliet Waiswa and Halima Shaban
THE promotion of breast milk substitutes have undermined breast feeding, health officials have said.
A senior health educator in the health ministry and social marketing and communication head for the Food Fortification Programme, Tabley Bakyaita, said the new policy on breast feeding states that all children should be breast fed from birth to two years.
“Products that replace breast milk partially or totally such as infant formula are discouraging mothers from breastfeeding,†he said
Bakyaita urged the organisations marketing formula products to follow the policy guideline or risk being charged.
He said experience had shown that during war and famine, infant formula is distributed in an uncontrolled way and used by mothers who would otherwise breastfeed their babies.
“Relief agencies provide mothers with formula feeds, porridge and other supplements which aren’t good for infants. The policy states that from birth to two years babies should be breastfed,†he said.
In a dialogue to mark the World Breastfeeding Week held at Hotel Africana on Friday, a nutritionist in the health ministry, Samalie Namukose, said breastfeeding rates were low and artificial infant feeding had become part of the culture.
The World Health Organisation estimates that 1.5 million infants die every year because of lack of breastfeeding.
Namukose said breast milk was a safe source of food for babies and provides protection against illnesses.
She added that breast milk was instantly available and kept an infant warm and close to its mother.
The secretary general of the International Baby Food Action Network, Barbara Tembo, said most mothers today shun breastfeeding for fear of sagging breasts, adding that the survival rate of children fed on breast milk substitutes was low.
THE promotion of breast milk substitutes have undermined breast feeding, health officials have said.
A senior health educator in the health ministry and social marketing and communication head for the Food Fortification Programme, Tabley Bakyaita, said the new policy on breast feeding states that all children should be breast fed from birth to two years.
“Products that replace breast milk partially or totally such as infant formula are discouraging mothers from breastfeeding,†he said
Bakyaita urged the organisations marketing formula products to follow the policy guideline or risk being charged.
He said experience had shown that during war and famine, infant formula is distributed in an uncontrolled way and used by mothers who would otherwise breastfeed their babies.
“Relief agencies provide mothers with formula feeds, porridge and other supplements which aren’t good for infants. The policy states that from birth to two years babies should be breastfed,†he said.
In a dialogue to mark the World Breastfeeding Week held at Hotel Africana on Friday, a nutritionist in the health ministry, Samalie Namukose, said breastfeeding rates were low and artificial infant feeding had become part of the culture.
The World Health Organisation estimates that 1.5 million infants die every year because of lack of breastfeeding.
Namukose said breast milk was a safe source of food for babies and provides protection against illnesses.
She added that breast milk was instantly available and kept an infant warm and close to its mother.
The secretary general of the International Baby Food Action Network, Barbara Tembo, said most mothers today shun breastfeeding for fear of sagging breasts, adding that the survival rate of children fed on breast milk substitutes was low.