Many doctors both in the public and private sectors have allegedly been violating the Breast Milk Substitute (BMS) Code throughout the country.
In a stark contrast to the campaigns by various government and social organisations to popularise exclusive breastfeeding for newborns for the first six months, these doctors are encouraging mothers to feed different substitute powdered milks to their babies.
Khurshid Jahan, director of Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF), told the Dhaka Tribune on August 19 that the authorities warned at least 100 doctors who promoted different formula companies and advised mothers to feed powdered milk to their newborns.
The BBF has learnt from many shopkeepers that certain companies are paying Tk600 a day to display their items in the front row, she said.
The BBF has provided the Institute of Public Health and Nutrition with a list of doctors who are flouting the BMS code and encouraging mothers to feed powdered milk or other food supplements to their babies instead of breast milk.
The government agency has so far issued warning notices to at least a hundred doctors working in public and private hospitals, said Dr SK Roy, chairperson of the BBF.
He told the Dhaka Tribune that medical professionals and representatives were promoting breast milk substitutes to mothers.
“There are a lot of breast milk substitutes being sold in the markets without registration. They are displaying these products openly and they are advertising tactfully in different print and electronic media. These all are clear violations of the existing BMS code,” he said.
The Breast Milk Substitute (Regulation of Marketing) Ordinance 1984 says: “No person shall promote any breast milk substitute either by advertisement or by offering or giving any gift, prize, discount coupon, or other free items or by any other means.”
State Minister for Health Mujibur Rahaman Fakir has announced that the BMS Code 1984 will be updated very soon. The draft law was already in parliament for review and might be passed in the upcoming session, he said.
Infants are exposed to health risks as imported breast milk substitutes sometimes are found contaminated.
MM Neazuddin, secretary of the health and family welfare ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune that he was going to write a letter to the commerce ministry requesting that it looks into the issue of contamination in powdered milk from a New Zealand company, and to extend monitoring and supervision before importing any kind of powdered milk, including baby milk.
The government of New Zealand has launched an inquiry into the allegations of powdered milk contamination at the world’s largest dairy producer Fonterra. The company recalled products from across the world last month, citing a contamination of botulism-causing bacteria.
While global brands of milk powder and baby food supplements are expanding their presence in Bangladesh, the country is doing well in promoting breastfeeding among mothers in general, officials claimed.
Health Minister AFM Ruhal Hoque said Bangladesh was doing well in the practice of breastfeeding. Referring to the Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey Report 2011, he said about 47% newborn babies were getting colostrum within one hour of their birth. About 64% babies were getting breast milk exclusively until the age of six months. Moreover, 93% babies were getting breast milk up to the age of two years.
The minister gave the statistics on August 19 at a press conference on the World Breastfeeding Week that was celebrated from August 1 to 7.
He urged everyone to increase the practice of breastfeeding to children which would contribute greatly to the prevention of child death.
