Experts call for promoting breastfeeding for improved childcare

KABUL (SW) – A number of doctors at the Indira Gandhi Children Hospital in Kabul say that feeding babies with formula milk in Afghanistan causes them to suffer from infectious diseases, mental retardation and malnutrition.

Emphasizing the importance of breastfeeding, Khaled, a specialist doctor in malnutrition at the hospital, says that from birth to six months, no other food can replace breast milk for a baby. He adds: “Mother’s breast milk is the only complementary food for the baby in the first six months. When the baby is born, it must be fed with breast milk. Mother’s breast milk serves as medicine and food, and it transfers the strength and immunity of the mother to the baby, and it is sufficient food.”

Doctors add that mothers’ neglect of breastfeeding is one of the main causes of children suffering from malnutrition, physical and mental disabilities.

On the other hand, a number of mothers who have fed their babies with powdered milk in the first six months, say that due to the insufficiency of their breast milk, their babies have been deprived of receiving it.

Palwasha, who fed her baby with formula milk until six months old, says that now her baby is suffering from malnutrition. “He is eight months old. My breast milk dried up from the first time the child was born. The hospital gave him formula milk. My child has vomiting, had diarrhea and fever in these eight months. The doctor says it is malnutrition.”

Fariba, a resident of Kabul, also says that she feeds her baby with powdered milk because her breast milk is insufficient. “I had no breast milk; my breast milk was dried up and did not come. After six months, I gave her powdered milk; now my child has diarrhea and is malnourished.”

Morsal, whose child is malnourished, also explained: “I also give my own breast milk to my child, but it isn’t enough and the child doesn’t get enough energy; that’s why he always cries. I have very little milk and my baby is suffering from malnutrition.”

Setara Habibi, a children’s nutrition consultant, said that mothers must observe the right time and methods of breastfeeding their babies to increase their milk supply.

She added: “The reason for no or low breast milk supply is that mothers do not breastfeed within hours after birth. Babies should be breastfed in the first hours. Newly born babies are not ready to take milk and it takes time and patience.”

Meanwhile, officials from the Ministry of Public Health state that in the past year, 2,300 nutrition consultants have been appointed in the provinces to promote the importance of breastfeeding babies.

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Afghanistan has announced that less than two-thirds of babies in the country are breastfed in the first six months.

ENDS
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