Up to 30 per cent mortality rate can be reduced by breast feeding of newly-born children during the first six months, medical experts said on Monday.
They expressed these views during a seminar on importance of breast feeding at the Punjab Cultural Complex. Addressing the seminar, UNICEF representative Dr Tahir Manzoor, Professor Nosheen Aziz and Lady Health Workers (LHW) Programme Provincial Coordinator Dr Akhtar Rasheed Malik highlighted the importance of breast feeding for health of a newly-born child. They disclosed that body temperature of mothers protects the new born from pneumonia and other diseases.
Punjab Health Secretary Jahanzeb Khan, presiding over a seminar, said that LHWs are successfully highlighting the importance of breast feeding among mothers and the government will take solid steps for their welfare. He said that LHWs are playing a pivotal role in promoting different health programmes in Punjab and the government acknowledges their services. The secretary said that solid steps would be taken for resolving their problems and timely payment of salaries.
He termed LHWs as the “backbone” of the healthcare delivery system adding that they are playing an “effective role” in promoting public health among people. Jahanzeb assured that the government would take concrete steps for their welfare. Dr Akhtar Rasheed Malik lauded the tremendous services of LHWs during the worst-ever floods in Punjab last year in providing healthcare to children and mothers. The secretary said that the main cause of diseases among pregnant women and children is malnutrition. He said that LHWs convey the health message door-to-door to protect society from diseases and guide women about what to eat to overcome their nutritional needs.
Jahanzeb also attended a coordination meeting with stakeholders involved in AIDS Response organised by the Punjab AIDS Control Programme in collaboration with UNAID at a local hotel. The objective of the meeting was to bring together stakeholders to review the present situation of HIV, identify priority areas, challenges, gaps and propose future strategic response in the province. The secretary highlighted the commitment of the government for prevention and treatment of AIDS.
He said that the government has allocated Rs 198 million, as compared to previous year’s allocation of 73 million for this purpose. The commitment of the government is also reflected in the award of contracts for service delivery projects for Most-At-Risk-Population in seven districts. Jahanzeb said that AIDS is a serious problem and consolidated efforts are needed to tackle this menace. He said that the government is taking concrete steps for controlling this menace and providing healthcare facilities to patients. The secretary also endorsed the idea of formation of a provincial think-tank for AIDS Response and need for an Inter-Provincial Coordination Mechanism for AIDS Control in the post-devolution scenario.
