PESHAWAR, Feb 6: The health department has notified the names of the members of a steering committee to highlight and promote the habit of breast feeding.

The committee will be headed by Director-General Dr Jalilur Rehman, whereas Prof Dr Meher Taj Roghani, Prof Shahnaz Akhtar, Prof Dr Azmat Talat, Dr Falak Naz, Dr Amin Jan, Dr Abdul Jamil, Dr Ghulam Mohyuddin, Dr Tahir Nadeem, Dr Shabina Raza, Dr Ghulam Subkhani and Khalida Shaheen would be its members.

The objective of forming the steering committee is to achieve the goals set by Breast feeding Health Initiative (BFHI) by discouraging the use of artificial milk formula for baby and promoting exclusively breast feeding among the women.

The committee, the officials said, had been tasked to enable the maternity hospitals to achieve the status of "Baby Friendly" in line with BFHI's requirements.

The officials said committee's task also included raising awareness among the mothers to lactate their children for the initial six months and continue it along with adequate complementary food for two years.

The committee, the officials said would work in collaboration with line departments, media, target hospitals and NGOs to ensure the implementation of the Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Ordinance, 2002. It would hold quarterly review meetings regarding progress and suggestions required for achieving BFHI's goals.

Officials said that the committee would liase with donor agencies, specially the Unicef for Breast feeding Health Initiative's support concerning plans and activities in the province. Furthermore, it would also hold seminars, walks, workshops and meetings to advocate the Breast feeding Health Initiative.

They said that artificial milk for babies was in no way the substitute of breast feeding and said that mothers' milk was important for the infants, which protected them against infections.