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closeEfforts needed on all levels
Posted by Slesak on 27 Mar 2012 at 08:16 GMT
Congratulations to this very important and comprehensive work for Laos and beyond. Despite some progress regarding the misuse of coffee-creamer as breast milk substitute the detected rate of exclusive breastfeeding among infants is still strikingly low (32% among 5-6months-olds). The challenge will be to bring the message across to the mothers (and fathers) in antenatal and postnatal care. Health staff involved in mother & child clinics, midwives, nurses, and doctors need to be aware of the potential danger and misuse of breast-milk substitutes and the importance of breast-feeding. ‘Breast-is-best’ including exclusive breastfeeding needs to be promoted and facilitated by all health professionals involved, regardless of any other messages coming across into Laos by e.g. cross border TV advertisements. Efforts are therefore important on all levels involved; from government policies, medical schools, midwives and nurses training institutions, down to those taking care and counselling young mothers in order to prevent further potential harm for infants’ health. Breast milk substitutes should never ever become a status-symbol in poorer countries like it used to be in the West in the 50ies and 60ies. It is our responsibility from richer countries to communicate this our sad mistake with broad neglect of breastfeeding in those years.