A family medicine consultant, an international breastfeeding consultant, and a member of the Friends of Health Association, d. Nasser dawn, that Bahrain’s experience in supporting breastfeeding is a role model, after the Kingdom has taken concrete steps at the legislative and awareness levels, stressing that Bahrain is moving forward with a steady pace towards a supportive environment for every mother and child.
According to Dr. Fajr Nasser Al -Radha, a effective means that directly contributes to achieving the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations for the year 2030, stressing that it not only enhances the health of the mother and child, but its effects extend to reducing economic gaps and contributing to preserving the environment.
She added that breastfeeding is closely related to a number of sustainable development goals, including the second goal related to the elimination of hunger and malnutrition, noting that breastfeeding provides the child with all the nutrients he needs during the first six months of his life without the need for any additions.
And she continued: “Breastfeeding also supports the third goal, which focuses on ensuring a healthy life and enhancing well -being for all, as it contributes to reducing the deaths of children, and also protects mothers from breast and ovarian cancer.
Dr. Nasser dawn to a study published in 2020 in the magazine of Matenal & Child Nutrition, which made it clear that the production of artificial milk consumes huge amounts of water and energy, and generates millions of tons of carbon dioxide annually, while breastfeeding is a sustainable environmental option that does not require manufacturing, packaging or quoting.
She indicated that a report issued by Save the Children confirmed that 50% of mothers’ commitment to exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months could be significantly reduced from the environmental imprint at the planet level.
She explained that the benefits are not limited to health and the environment, but extend to the economy, as global economic losses are estimated due to the low breastfeeding rates by about 302 billion dollars annually, according to a study published in The Lancet in 2016, as a result of high rates of diseases and decline in intelligence and productivity in children who did not obtain sufficient breastfeeding.
With regard to ways to support breastfeeding sustainability, Dr. It was detonated that the matter requires concerted efforts at multiple levels, the first of which is the approval of legislation supporting mothers, such as granting paid maternity leave and providing places prepared for breastfeeding in the workplace, as well as educating society and families through awareness campaigns based on scientific foundations and societal values.
She added that among the most prominent elements of support is also the rehabilitation of workers in the health sector by training them to provide advice based on scientific evidence, in addition to organizing the marketing of milk alternatives through strict adherence to the international blog to market mail alternatives, issued by the World Health Organization.
Dr. Nasser detonated the experience of the Kingdom of Bahrain as a role model in supporting breastfeeding, explaining that the Kingdom has taken concrete steps at the legislative and awareness levels, including the Bahraini Labor Law that gives the mother a paid maternity leave for two months, in addition to two hours a day to breastfeed after returning to work, in most government institutions and many private sectors.
It also indicated that the laws of child protection in Bahrain include provisions that support the child’s right to natural nutrition, in addition to the role of the Ministry of Health in monitoring the application of the code of marketing of breast milk alternatives, to reduce the illegal promotion of artificial milk. She added that the Ministry of Health is organizing, in cooperation with the Supreme Council for Women, awareness campaigns during the World Breastfeeding Week, as well as awareness programs in schools and health centers, praising the pioneering role of the Supreme Council for Women in supporting national policies that balance between the professional and family role of women, and enable the working mother to continue breastfeeding within a flexible and supportive work environment.
Dr. Nasser detonated her speech by emphasizing that breastfeeding is no longer just a healthy choice, but rather has become a strategic necessity related to public health and environmental and social sustainability. She said that supporting this behavior is a collective responsibility and a long -term investment in the health of societies and the efficiency of future generations, stressing that Bahrain is moving forward with a steady pace towards a supportive environment for every mother and child.
