TAXILA: Deputy Commissioner Attock Rao Atif Raza on Monday said as per guidelines of the Punjab government, a breastfeeding room would be set up at the workplace where mothers can breastfeed their babies in an atmosphere of privacy and comfort.

He was addressing a meeting held to review the arrangements in connection with World Breastfeeding Week which was attended by all six assistant commissioners, deputy district health officers, officials from Integrated Reproductive Maternal Newborn, District Population Welfare Office and social welfare department.

He said that during the week, walks at Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital, RHC primary health centers and MCH centres across the district will be held and banners displayed.

He said establishment of day care centres at the workplace, implementation of minimum six months maternity leave law for mother, implementation of 30 days paternity leave law for father, newborn and mother’s best health includes ensuring a safe and healthy workplace environment would also be ensured at all government offices of the district.

Awareness programme held to mark ‘World Breastfeeding Week’

A seminar was also held in connection with the week where speakers stressed the need for collective efforts to sensitise women to the importance of breastfeeding.

The World Breastfeeding Week in Attock is being observed by the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department of Punjab as part of the Integrated Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Health, and Nutrition Programme.

The seminar was organised by the District Health Authority Attock at the District Headquarters Hospital.

The speakers said mother’s milk was important for the health of both the mother and her child as it kept them safe from different diseases and infections.

The health officials said during the week awareness sessions would be organised on the importance of breastfeeding and how to prevent different diseases of children like diarrhea and cholera.

While highlighting the importance of breastfeeding to children in order to keep the child healthy, District Coordinator of Integrated Reproductive Maternal Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition Programme Dr Mohammad Saeed speaking on this occasion said mother’s milk contained proteins, vitamins and fats proteins, which were crucial for the growth and health of the children.

In her address, District Education Officer Elementary Shahnaz Qadir said that the mothers, who breastfed their children, had less chances of contracting breast cancer.

District Headquarters Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Jawad Ellahi said that all balanced nutrients were found in the mother’s milk.

He added that 48 per cent of children in Pakistan suffered from malnutrition and 40 per cent lost weight because their mothers did not breastfeed them for two years.

Speaking on this occasion, chief executive district health authority Dr Asad Ismail said breastfeeding week was aimed at creating awareness among the general public about the importance of mother’s milk, which was the best diet for infants.

He said that Islam also emphasised on mothers to breastfeed their children for up to two years.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2023