In Pakistan, International Medical Corps used World Breastfeeding Week as an opportunity to host a week-long educational program on the nutritional benefits of breast milk. The series of outreach events worked to position breastfeeding as a vital element in giving children a healthy start among different communities in Pakistan’s isolated Northwest Frontier Province.
One of the week’s highlights was the awareness event at the Meera Kachawri Afghan Refugee Camp. The event drew a variety of women, including health committee members, birth attendants, and pregnant and lactating mothers. In addition to health benefits, International Medical Corps also covered solutions to breastfeeding’s common problems. The event concluded with a question and answer session where participants could share their experiences.
Mehro*, a mother of three, bottle-fed her first two children when she lived in Kabul because that was what other mothers did. “Both of my children used to be sick all the time,” she says. “After my husband died, I moved in with my in-laws in Kachawri Camp. Pregnant with my third child, I was worried about how I would feed my baby because we could not afford bottle milk.”
She then met one of International Medical Corps’ women health workers, who advised her to visit the local health clinic. After examining Mehro and her first two children, the International Medical Corps doctor suggested that she breastfeed her third for at least the first six months because it protects against diarrhea, respiratory infection, and other illnesses.
“Following the advice and guidance of International Medical Corps health workers, I have breastfed my third child since he was born,” says Mehro. “He is now a healthy, growing boy.”
At six months, Mehro started giving her baby solid food, but she will continue breastfeeding until his second birthday to make sure he has the nutritional balance to grow and build a healthy immune system.
“I am so thankful to International Medical Corps for their support and guidance,” says Mehro. “My message to all mothers is to not deprive their children of their right – breastfeed them.”
* Not her real name.