KARACHI: Sharing concern over the country`s high infant mortality and morbidity rates, health experts on Saturday stated that the single step that can help mothers save the lives of their babies is to breastfeed them, at least exclusively for the first six months of their life.

Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, they pointed out that the practice, notonly significantly improves the survival rates of infants, improves their health, prevents infections,but also reducesmothers` vulnerability to several diseases, including cancer.

`Pakistan has a very high infant and neonatal mortality rate and two major killers of children, under one of age, are diarrhea and respiratory diseases.

These illnesses have a strong connection with bottle-feeding and babies who are formula-fed have a higher risk of death due to these diseases,` said Prof Masood Sadiq, president of Pakistan Paediatric Association (PPA).

`The exclusive breastfeeding rate in Pakistan is only 48 per cent, meaning that half of the newborns do not get mother`s milk at all,` he added.

In response to a questionabout malnourished mothers, Prof Sadiq said that malnourishment did not degrade the nutritional value of mother`s milk, but it could affect its quantity.

`To address this problem, we ask mothers to keep themselves adequately hydrated. A better strategy is that a would-be mother should start looking after her wellbeing as soon as shegetspregnantorevenbefore that,` he added.

Highlighting the benefits of mother`s milk, Prof Mohsina Noor Ibrahim, secretary general PPA, said that it provided the baby with ideal nutrition and supported growth and development, apart from protecting the child against several short and long-term illnesses, including diabetes.`Breastfed babies have a stronger immune system and higher intelligence quotient (IQ) levels than babies who are on bottle-feeding. Additionally, it is free and mothers can feed their babies anytime, without worrying about having to mix or prepare bottle,` she said.

About the breastfeeding protection laws in Pakistan, Dr Khalid Shafi, also representing PPA, explained that the laws had been there since 2002 but were revised in 2013.

`Given some weaknesses in the 2013 law, a new law was introduced in 2023. The milk companies opposed this bill even before it was passed and made a cartel. They challenged it in the court, but their petition was dismissed,` he recalled.

Now, he said, the formulacompanies could not use the term `formula milk` since their product was neither milk nor its substitute. They would use the term `artificial formula` for their product.

`Under the new law, the artificial formula sale will be limited to pharmacies and authorised outlets. The formula companies cannot distribute free samples, cannot advertise publicly, cannot give the free coupons,giftsetc.So,the advertisement of artificial formula, as well as, weaning products of children for under three years of age cannot be publicised in the media,` he said.

`There are penalties, including imprisonment, for manufacturers, distributors, and healthcare providers who do not comply with the law,` he added.