PESHAWAR, Aug 8: Speakers at a seminar here have said that the federal government is preparing the draft of the National Infants Board to ensure the implementation of the Protection of Breast feeding and Child Nutrition Ordinance 2000 and save the people from the promotional tactics adopted by multinational companies selling artificial baby milk.

The president has enforced the ordinance, but it is yet to be implemented and within a period of two months, a board would be set up, where the people could lodge complaints against the unethical promotional practices of baby milk manufacturers to capture the market for their products.

This was stated by Ayesha Javid of the Islamabad-based NGO, The Network, while addressing a seminar to observe the World Breastfeeding Week here on Saturday. She said that mothers should start breast feeding their infants within half an hour after birth and continue up to six months. She said that mothers could give appropriate supplementary food along with breast feeding after six months as a weaning diet.

Citing studies conducted by WHO and Unicef, she said that breast milk was the ideal and perfect food for the development and healthy growth of infants, which besides protecting them from diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections, also stimulates their immune systems and improves response to vaccination.

It contains 26 types of vitamins and many hundreds of health-enhancing molecules, enzymes, proteins and hormones, she said. Not only children, it was also beneficial for the mothers' health by helping the uterus to contract soon after delivery, thus reducing the chances of prolonged bleeding.

"Under the ordinance, no one can market, distribute or sell artificial milk except competent doctors, who could assess the need of children", she added. She urged the health workers to encourage, support and protect breast feeding.

The ordinance, she said has also called for punishment by a fine up to Rs500,000 for breach of any of its clauses and imprisonment up to two years. "The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) may recommend a court to suspend or cancel the licence of a healthcare provider for the practice of his profession or occupation or for the pursuit of his business, if such person is found not following the provision of the ordinance", said she.

ANP MPA Farah Aqil, who was chief guest on the occasion, said that health workers, media men and NGOs should join forces to raise the level of public awareness regarding the benefits associated with breast feeding. It is cheap, while artificial milk caused several diseases besides monetary losses to the poor people.