Breast-feeding trend is declining: Official<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Fewer mothers are nursing their babies, despite
\nthe national breast-feeding campaign launched by President
\nSoeharto six years ago, an official says.<\/p>\n
\"The breast-feeding trend is declining,\" said Benny A. Kodyat,
\nhead of the directorate of community nutrition at the Ministry of
\nHealth, at a seminar yesterday.<\/p>\n
He blamed the decline on the aggressive campaigns of milk
\nformula producers and poor enforcement of laws which are designed
\nto regulate such campaigns.<\/p>\n
\"The aggressive promotion takes place because of a lack of
\nsupervision of laws and decrees,\" he told participants at a
\nseminar titled \"Breast-feeding: A Community Responsibility\" held
\nto commemorate World Breast-feeding Week, from Aug.1 to Aug.7.<\/p>\n
The seminar was opened by Minister of Health Sujudi and
\nattended by the United Nations Children's Fund Representative for
\nIndonesia, Stephen J. Woodhouse.<\/p>\n
In 1992 milk-substitute producers agreed to adhere to
\ngovernment-imposed limitations on the promotion of their
\nproducts. For instance, they are not allowed to distribute
\nsamples to maternity wards.<\/p>\n
In the same year, in the hope of promoting breast-feeding, the
\ngovernment issued the Health Law. This threatens violators of the
\nagreement with a maximum of 15 years imprisonment or a fine up to
\nRp 300 million (US$130,434).<\/p>\n
A 1992 survey recorded that 10 percent of children were given
\nbreast-milk substitutes within two months of being born.<\/p>\n
A 1991 survey revealed that while 97 percent of mothers nursed
\ntheir children, only 51 percent did so exclusively. The rest gave
\ntheir babies supplementary food.<\/p>\n
The number of mothers who breast-fed their babies exclusively
\nfor the first four months had decreased to 47 percent by 1994.
\nOne of the most recent surveys also revealed that only 8 percent
\nof mothers breast-feed their infants within an hour after
\ndelivery as doctors suggest.<\/p>\n
\"Exclusive breast-feeding will improve children's
\nintelligence, whereas breast-milk substitutes cause health
\nproblems such as diarrhea, allergies and malnutrition,\" Benny
\nadded.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto said, when launching the breast-feeding
\ncampaign in Dec. 1990, that greater career opportunities women
\nenjoyed today sometimes forced mothers to give breast-milk
\nsubstitutes to their babies.<\/p>\n
\"However, for the love of the babies... and for the healthy
\ndevelopment of those living beyond childhood, breast-feeding
\nremains the best,\" he said then. (31)<\/p>",
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