Ignorance about breast-freeding lamented

Ignorance about breast-freeding lamented

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

JAKARTA: A government official said on Friday that almost half
of the new mothers in this country failed to breast-feed their
babies exclusively.

Director General of Public Health Development Azrul Azwar said
the latest demographic and health survey found that only 52
percent of mothers complied with the government's call for
breast-feeding their babies exclusively until they were four
months old.

He said breast milk was recommendable as it contains docosa
hexaaenoat (DHA), a substance which is necessary for brain
development and that produces antigens to improve immunity during
children's early growth period.

"Mothers should not give supplementary food to babies under
four months old because the extra nutrition will adversely affect
the absorption of breast milk," Azwar told Antara.

Since 1990, the World Health Organization has dedicated every
August to a global campaign raising awareness of the benefits of
breast-feeding.

Separately, nutritionist Muhilal expressed his concern over
the misleading advertisements of most powdered milk brands, which
claim to contain DHA and therefore could replace breast milk.

Muhilal, who chairs the Bogor-based Center for Nutrition and
Food Research and Development, said powdered milk, which
originates from cow's milk, could not match breast milk. Cow's
milk and breast milk are different in chemical composition, he
added.

He said powdered milk could have DHA added, but it easily
deteriorates.

"DHA in breast milk works well because the milk is always
fresh," Muhilal said.

He said that most human brain cells, probably up to 90
percent, were formed before a baby was born. The rest, he added,
would grow within the next two years.

"Babies need breast milk because they are supposed to grow up
to be thinkers, while calves are expected to grow only in
strength," Muhilal said.