Mothers shouldn't stop breastfeeding due to virus fear: report.

Byline: Ikram Junaidi

ISLAMABAD -- With over 5.7 million people infected with the novel coronavirus across the globe and the baby food industry exploiting fears of the infection, a new report has advised mothers not to hesitate while breastfeeding babies as active virus has not, to date, been detected in breast milk.

The report titled 'Marketing of breast milk substitutes: national implementation of the international code' was released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) and International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) on Wednesday.

'It appears unlikely that Covid-19 would be transmitted through breastfeeding or by giving breast milk that has been expressed by a mother who is confirmed or suspected to have Covid-19. Women with confirmed or suspecAted Covid-19 can therefore breastfeed if they wish to do so,' the report states.

Mothers have been advised to wash hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand rub, especially before touching the baby... Wear a medical mask during any contact with the baby, including while feeding... Sneeze or cough into a tissue, then dispose of it (tissue) immediately and wash hands again; routinely clean and disinfect surfaces after touching them. Even if mothers do not have a medical mask, they should follow all other infection prevention measures and continue breastfeeding.

'The fear of Covid-19 transmission is eclipsing the importance of breastfeeding - and in too many countries mothers and babies are being separated at birth - making breastfeeding and skin to skin contact difficult if not impossible; all on the basis of no evidence. Meanwhile, the baby food industry is exploiting fears of infection, promoting and distributing free formula and misleading advice - claiming that the donations are humanitarian and that they are trustworthy partners,' said Patti Rundall of the IBFAN's Global Council.

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Given the important role of health workers in protecting pregnant women, mothers and their infants from inappropriate promotion of breast milk substitutes (BMS), the 2020 report provides an extensive analysis of legal measures taken to prohibit promotion of BMS to health workers and in health facilities. However, the report reveals that despite efforts to stop the harmful promotion of BMS, countries are still falling short in protecting parents from misleading information.

The Covid-19...