Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM
Health Minister calls for regulation of anti-breastfeeding ads
Some of the participants at yesterday’s forum.
By Fareeza Haniff
After more than 10 years of trying to ensure that breastfeeding becomes a part of the life of every family, the Ministry of Health has failed to do so.
This was revealed by Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy during his remarks at the end-of-year National Breastfeeding Committee meeting held at the Regency Suites.
Minister Ramsammy also believes that the rate of breastfeeding in Guyana – which is 31 per cent – is unacceptable and is a reflection that things need to be done differently.
Additionally, Dr. Ramsammy noted that Guyana is faced with social determinants which make it more difficult for mothers to breastfeed, as there are the multi-national companies that powerfully promote the use of substitute feeding methods.
In this regard, the Health Minister called for the marketing strategies of these companies to be regulated.
“We have to address this from a national perspective…we need stronger, global and national laws to prevent this. The public promotion of substitute feeding methods for babies should be regulated the same way that we regulate the marketing of tobacco products,” Dr. Ramsammy said.
He explained that the substitute infant feeding that these multi-national companies promote is no less deadly than tobacco, as it exposes a child to risks as babies and a risk throughout a lifetime. “Therefore it cannot go on unregulated…it must be regulated so that it doesn’t convince a poor mother that these ads are healthy.”
According to Minister Ramsammy, the agencies cannot be permitted to compete with the messages by the Health Ministry, as he cites it as ‘unfair competition.’
In this respect, the Health Minister has made it a priority issue and has mandated the Communication Unit of the Ministry to ensure that strong messages promoting breastfeeding are in place for 2010. “We must be bombarded as a nation with the messages of breastfeeding.”
Dr. Ramsammy added that Guyana must be willing to invest in order to ensure that the messages of breastfeeding become part of everyone’s life.
The Ministry of Health has now made the lack of breastfeeding a risk factor for chronic diseases, given the fact that there is strong evidence indicating that persons who are not breastfed as babies are at a higher risk for chronic diseases.
Dr. Ramsammy explained that breast feeding should be seen as a long-term permanent protective measure for children, as it is the fundamental right of a child to be breastfed. The Health Minister made it clear that breastfeeding should not be an option, but rather an obligation.
“The baby has a right to breastfeeding…God gave women breasts not to look beautiful for men in their lust…that’s not how women were designed. The difference in hormone expression was not created so that we could satisfy other needs. There was only one biological reason…that is so that babies can be breastfed so that they can survive and grow into healthy, long living productive adults.”
By doing this, Ramsammy noted that it will ensure less risk for diabetes, hypertension, cancer and all other infectious diseases that lead to long-term chronic conditions.
The annual meeting for the National Breastfeeding Committee concludes today. Nurses from across the country are also attending the forum.
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