QUETTA - Parliamentary Secretary Science and Technology, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Dr Rubaba Khan Buledi on Monday expressing her concern over the increasing iron and vitamin deficiencies among children across the country called for devising a concerted strategy to save the future of the next generation.
She expressed these views while speaking as a special guest at the ceremony to celebrate the month of August as the month of awareness about the importance of mother’s milk at the Provincial Sandeman Hospital, Quetta. The programme was jointly organized by UNICEF, MNCH and UNFPA.
“Six out of every ten children in Pakistan are deficient in vitamin D; more than half of the children under five years of age (53.7 percent) are suffering from anemia i.e. lack of iron in the blood; while more than half of the children (51.5 percent) suffer from vitamin A deficiency,” she said. “More than half of Pakistan’s children are suffering from hidden malnutrition and this is the main reason Pakistan is unable to harness the latent potential and strengths of individuals and groups for development”, she observed.
Says best complete food for a child after birth is mother’s milk
Dr Rubaba said that in modern scientific century, due to the lack of knowledge and education, the majority of mothers in Pakistan were surrounded by superstitions.
A female relative puts honey on her finger and licks the baby, or some people give the baby water mixed with honey. These were all wrong ways that can harm a child, she emphasised.
“The best and most complete food for a child after birth is mother’s milk,” she said adding while breastfeeding, a deep bond is established between mother and child.
Children who drank mother’s milk were healthy and satisfied and their psychological development was also good, their future was also bright, she said and stressed that every class of thought must work to promote awareness among mothers by highlighting the importance of mother’s milk. Chief Nutrition and Medical Superintendent Civil Hospital Dr. Amin Khan Mandokhail, Additional Director of Health Services Shaukat Baloch, Prof. Zahir Khan Mandokhail, Prof. Bashir Ahmad Abro, Dr Tahir Zehri, Dr Zaib un Nisa Magsi, Dr Shumail Khan Mandokhel, Deputy Head of MNCH Balochistan Dr Sarmad Saeed, UNICEF Program Officer Imran Jatoi were also present on the occasion. Earlier, a walk was also organized to highlight the importance of mother’s milk.
She expressed these views while speaking as a special guest at the ceremony to celebrate the month of August as the month of awareness about the importance of mother’s milk at the Provincial Sandeman Hospital, Quetta. The programme was jointly organized by UNICEF, MNCH and UNFPA.
“Six out of every ten children in Pakistan are deficient in vitamin D; more than half of the children under five years of age (53.7 percent) are suffering from anemia i.e. lack of iron in the blood; while more than half of the children (51.5 percent) suffer from vitamin A deficiency,” she said. “More than half of Pakistan’s children are suffering from hidden malnutrition and this is the main reason Pakistan is unable to harness the latent potential and strengths of individuals and groups for development”, she observed.
Says best complete food for a child after birth is mother’s milk
Dr Rubaba said that in modern scientific century, due to the lack of knowledge and education, the majority of mothers in Pakistan were surrounded by superstitions.
A female relative puts honey on her finger and licks the baby, or some people give the baby water mixed with honey. These were all wrong ways that can harm a child, she emphasised.
“The best and most complete food for a child after birth is mother’s milk,” she said adding while breastfeeding, a deep bond is established between mother and child.
Children who drank mother’s milk were healthy and satisfied and their psychological development was also good, their future was also bright, she said and stressed that every class of thought must work to promote awareness among mothers by highlighting the importance of mother’s milk. Chief Nutrition and Medical Superintendent Civil Hospital Dr. Amin Khan Mandokhail, Additional Director of Health Services Shaukat Baloch, Prof. Zahir Khan Mandokhail, Prof. Bashir Ahmad Abro, Dr Tahir Zehri, Dr Zaib un Nisa Magsi, Dr Shumail Khan Mandokhel, Deputy Head of MNCH Balochistan Dr Sarmad Saeed, UNICEF Program Officer Imran Jatoi were also present on the occasion. Earlier, a walk was also organized to highlight the importance of mother’s milk.
