ID :
147747
Thu, 10/28/2010 - 04:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/147747
The shortlink copeid
News Focus: GOVT LOOKS SET TO BAN FORMULA MILK ADS FOR INFANTS
By Suharto
Jakarta, Oct 27 (ANTARA) - The government looks set to ban all forms of formula milk ads for infants under the age of one year when a draft regulation on breastfeeding and restricting formula milk is endorsed into a regulation probably early next year.
Neither will formula milk producers be allowed to cooperate with hospitals, clinics, doctors, midwives and nurses in marketing their products when the regulation takes effect.
The regulation which is the mandate of Law No. 36 of 2009 on Health will also require the management of companies to provide nursery rooms at work place.
Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih told reporters after an improptu visit to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta on Monday the draft regulation now under discussion was ready for endorsement next year.
"The draft government regulation has just received the green light from the President for further discussion. Hopefully, it can be passed into a government regulation next year," she said.
The low number of mothers breastfeeding exclusively their infants under the age of one year is partly to blame for the high infant mortality rate in the country. This is because of the low awareness of the need to breastfeed and the absence of ban on formula milk ads displayed at health centers.
The results of a national socio-economic survey show the number of breastfeeding mothers in the country tended to decline in the past three years. The survey also shows 64.1 percent of mothers fed their newborns with exclusive breast milk in 2006. The figure fell to 62.2 percent in 2007 and further went down to 56.2 percent in 2008.
The infant mortality rate in Indonesia is the highest among the other ASEAN member countries. Official data show the country's infant mortality rate is now 35 per 1,000 live births, while 44 children under the age of five years die for every 1,000 live births.
The main causes of death are acute respiratory infections, diarrhea and birth complications. Besides the main causes, some infectious diseases such as meningitis, typhus and encephalitis are also quite often the causes of infant mortality.
"Only 22 percent of mothers give exclusive breastfeeding to their newborns," Minister Endang said on the sidelines of a function to launch strategy to achieve MDGs in Bandung last week.
"The exclusive breastfeeding rates are still low because many parents prefer to feed infants with formula milk. That?s why all (formula milk) ads (for infants under the age of one year) on the print, electronic and spaceless media will be banned,? she said.
Yet, formula milk can be given to infants under the age of one year under certain conditions, such as when their mothers have difficulty producing breast milk.
Endang said exclusive breastfeeding campaign was vital to curb the mortality rate of infants under the age of five years, which is one of the targets in the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Data from the Health Ministry show breastfeeding can lower the mortality rate of newborns by up to 17 percent and children under the age of five years by up to 12 percent.
The results of a research conducted by the Inisiasi Menyusu Dini (IMD) organization meanwhile suggest that exclusive breastfeeding for newborns can reduce infant mortality rate by up to 22 percent.
The research also shows mothers who exclusively feed infants with breast milk for six months and continue it until the age of two years may help them prevent such diseases as cancer, pneumonia, diarrhea, cardiovascular ailment, allergy and asthma.
A Unicef study conducted in 42 countries meanwhile shows exclusive breastfeeding, with no additional food or liquid, proves to have the highest impact (13 percent) on saving the lives of infants, compared to all other interventions.
The minister said the regulation will strictly ban health authorities including hospitals, clinics and doctors from cooperating with formula milk producers.
"The government regulation will ban formula milk commercials for infants under the age of one year. But what we want to emphasize is that there must not be cooperation between medical workers and formula milk producers any longer," she said.
She said formula milk producers, most of them international companies, are willing to support the new policy. "They will feel ashamed if we call them killers of infants. And now they appear to have reduced their ads," she said.
Jakarta, Oct 27 (ANTARA) - The government looks set to ban all forms of formula milk ads for infants under the age of one year when a draft regulation on breastfeeding and restricting formula milk is endorsed into a regulation probably early next year.
Neither will formula milk producers be allowed to cooperate with hospitals, clinics, doctors, midwives and nurses in marketing their products when the regulation takes effect.
The regulation which is the mandate of Law No. 36 of 2009 on Health will also require the management of companies to provide nursery rooms at work place.
Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih told reporters after an improptu visit to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta on Monday the draft regulation now under discussion was ready for endorsement next year.
"The draft government regulation has just received the green light from the President for further discussion. Hopefully, it can be passed into a government regulation next year," she said.
The low number of mothers breastfeeding exclusively their infants under the age of one year is partly to blame for the high infant mortality rate in the country. This is because of the low awareness of the need to breastfeed and the absence of ban on formula milk ads displayed at health centers.
The results of a national socio-economic survey show the number of breastfeeding mothers in the country tended to decline in the past three years. The survey also shows 64.1 percent of mothers fed their newborns with exclusive breast milk in 2006. The figure fell to 62.2 percent in 2007 and further went down to 56.2 percent in 2008.
The infant mortality rate in Indonesia is the highest among the other ASEAN member countries. Official data show the country's infant mortality rate is now 35 per 1,000 live births, while 44 children under the age of five years die for every 1,000 live births.
The main causes of death are acute respiratory infections, diarrhea and birth complications. Besides the main causes, some infectious diseases such as meningitis, typhus and encephalitis are also quite often the causes of infant mortality.
"Only 22 percent of mothers give exclusive breastfeeding to their newborns," Minister Endang said on the sidelines of a function to launch strategy to achieve MDGs in Bandung last week.
"The exclusive breastfeeding rates are still low because many parents prefer to feed infants with formula milk. That?s why all (formula milk) ads (for infants under the age of one year) on the print, electronic and spaceless media will be banned,? she said.
Yet, formula milk can be given to infants under the age of one year under certain conditions, such as when their mothers have difficulty producing breast milk.
Endang said exclusive breastfeeding campaign was vital to curb the mortality rate of infants under the age of five years, which is one of the targets in the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Data from the Health Ministry show breastfeeding can lower the mortality rate of newborns by up to 17 percent and children under the age of five years by up to 12 percent.
The results of a research conducted by the Inisiasi Menyusu Dini (IMD) organization meanwhile suggest that exclusive breastfeeding for newborns can reduce infant mortality rate by up to 22 percent.
The research also shows mothers who exclusively feed infants with breast milk for six months and continue it until the age of two years may help them prevent such diseases as cancer, pneumonia, diarrhea, cardiovascular ailment, allergy and asthma.
A Unicef study conducted in 42 countries meanwhile shows exclusive breastfeeding, with no additional food or liquid, proves to have the highest impact (13 percent) on saving the lives of infants, compared to all other interventions.
The minister said the regulation will strictly ban health authorities including hospitals, clinics and doctors from cooperating with formula milk producers.
"The government regulation will ban formula milk commercials for infants under the age of one year. But what we want to emphasize is that there must not be cooperation between medical workers and formula milk producers any longer," she said.
She said formula milk producers, most of them international companies, are willing to support the new policy. "They will feel ashamed if we call them killers of infants. And now they appear to have reduced their ads," she said.
