Islamabad, Aug 28: The Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Climate Change and the Environment, breastfeeding is an essential habit that has significant health advantages for mothers and babies. because milk strengthens the emotional link between a mother and her child, gives babies vital nutrients, and strengthens their immune systems.
“The mother-infant relationship is strengthened, breastfeeding promotes healthy growth, and breastfeeding has good effects on the environment and economy. Nonetheless, Ms. Alam noted as the keynote speaker at a seminar titled “National Advocacy & Sensitization with Parliamentarians on the World Breastfeeding Awareness Week” held here on Wednesday that “promoting and supporting breastfeeding through education, policy, and community support can lead to healthier individuals and a more sustainable future.”
“Save the Children” coordinated the event in association with the World Food Programme, WHO, Unicef, and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination. The attendees were informed by PM’s Climate Aide that Pakistan is experiencing extreme weather events, water scarcity, and changes in agricultural production as a result of climate change. She also highlighted the impact of these changes on mothers’ access to good nutrition.She continued, “These issues directly affect food security, which in turn affects the nutrition of mothers and children.”
But the PM’s Climate Aide stressed how important it is to work out policies and plans of action to shield nursing mothers from the worsening effects of climate change, especially heat waves and floods.”The most vulnerable members of our population women and children are at increasing risk of hunger as climate change exacerbates poverty and food insecurity,” she said. “We must integrate climate resilience into our national nutrition programs and policies to address this,” Romina Khurshid proposed.
In order to do this, we must prioritize nutrition in our plans for climate adaptation and ensure that our food systems are resilient to shocks from the weather. We also need to promote sustainable agriculture methods. She went on, “By doing this, we can shield our kids from the twin dangers of hunger and climate change.
Romina Khurshid Alam, the PM’s assistant, emphasized that breastfeeding is essential for the future of our country since it improves the nutrition of mothers, children, and adolescents in Pakistan.Since healthy children are at the core of a healthy society, Romina Khurshid Alam stated that politicians, practitioners, and advocates for children’s rights should step up their efforts to safeguard and advance this practice.
“To create environments where mothers feel empowered to breastfeed, a collective effort from all sectors healthcare professionals, community leaders, policymakers, and the media is required,” Ms. Alam emphasized.PM’s coordinator Romina Khurshid Alam warned that promoting breastfeeding cannot be achieved without debunking myths, supplying correct information, and offering assistance to mothers especially in poor and rural areas where access to healthcare and information may be limited.
She continued by saying that family-friendly laws that assist working mothers are essential as we strive to protect gender equality and empower women.The PM’s Coordinator proposed that measures like paid maternity leave, flexible work schedules, and access to high-quality childcare are vital in Pakistan, where women are integral to the household and economy. She went on to say that these policies help not just moms and their kids but also a more resilient and productive workforce.
Romina Khurshid emphasized the government’s efforts, stating that it has improved maternity leave laws and encouraged employers to implement more family-friendly policies, among other measures.Nonetheless, she emphasized that “the government is also pushing for broader implementation, particularly in the private sector, and ensure that these policies are accessible to women in all parts of the country.”
The relentless marketing of breast milk replacements is one of the most important difficulties we face in safeguarding breastfeeding, according to Dr. Shahida Rehmani, Secretary of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus. She noted that this problem is especially severe in Pakistan due to extensive marketing that frequently targets weaker women and makes them think that formula milk is a better choice.
Pakistan has pledged to adhere to the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes, a global norm intended to stop unethical abuses. According to her, safeguarding breastfeeding is a national duty as well as a health concern.”Our dedication to improving the nutrition of mothers, children, and adolescents in Pakistan needs to be based on our cultural values,
Dr. Shahida Rehmani proposed. “backed by strong policies, and reinforced by our efforts to combat climate change.” Anthony Germa, Chief of Nutrition at UNICEF, urged the lawmakers to work together to address the serious problem of newborn and breastfeeding mother malnutrition.
Breastfeeding is the first vaccination a kid receives to protect them against sickness and is vital to their survival. In Pakistan, just half of the child population did not breastfeed by six months of their birth, despite all these advantages. Since malnutrition accounts for 3% of child deaths in Pakistan, breastfeeding is really difficult there,” he continued. Germa emphasized that nursing should be included in discussions about human development since it is a child’s fundamental need.
According to Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan, vice chancellor of the Health Services Academy (HSA), Pakistan’s nutrition indices are deteriorating, with wealthy households experiencing the greatest effects of excessive junk food intake. “If the mother does not provide the infant the micronutrients he or she needs during the baby’s developmental stage, the youngster may have problems at birth and acquire ailments as an adult. While early breastfeeding can prevent a spike in neonatal illnesses that would kill 42,000 babies in the first month of their lives, he also stated that mother health and early childhood development are crucial.He issued a warning that youngsters who are not breastfed are more likely to be obese.
