Experts at a seminar on Thursday expressed their concern over lack of mother feeding trend and children stunted growth, saying that low ratio of motherfed infants was causing physical and mental disability and termed it one of primary cause of malnutrition in the country.

They addressed at a seminar on nutrition and mother feeding held in connection with connection World Breastfeeding Week. It was arranged by Faculty of Food, Nutrition and Home Sciences, UAF in collocation with United Nation’s International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and Integrated Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child Health and Nutrition, Government of Punjab at New Senate Hall. Addressing on the occasion, UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar Iqbal Randhawa said that mother feeding was the best way to provide infants with nutrients they need for the healthy life. He said that it was recommended of exclusive breastfeeding starting within one hour after birth until a baby is six months old. Nutritious complementary foods should then be added while continuing to breastfeed for up to 2 years or. He said that Quran also gives the guidelines to provide mother feeding for two years. He lauded the steps and initiatives of the government to address the issues of stunted growth in the infants. He said that the 44 percent of the children under five years of age are stunted in the country which was affecting the development of the brain. He added that the future of the country is at stake with so many stunted children. He said that the government was taking all possible steps to address the issue of stunted growth in the country. Faculty Dean Dr Masood Sadiq Butt said that low ratio of mother feeding caused diseases including diarrhea and other childhood illnesses. He said that malnutrition was causing the loss of the three percent to the Gross Domestic Product which is the biggest issue than the energy crisis. He added that some people consider formula milk as healthy as mothers. We have to root out such misconception among the society. He said that UAF is the leading university to launch Human Nutrition and Dietetics degree in the country. The program is replicated in the 15 universities in the country. UNICEF Nutrition Expert Dr Shafiq Rehman said that mother feed was perquisite not only for maintaining physical health of infant but also for the mental ability. He said that the mothefeed also save the mothers from the breast cancer. He said that stunting rate among children under the age of five years has is 44 per cent whereas the wasting percentage has increased from touched 15 per cent. DG NIFSAT Dr Tahir Zahoor stressed upon the need to create awareness about the compliance to breastfeeding for two years that could significantly reduce stunting in the country. He said that newborn must be motherfed within the 30 minutes of the months. She said that mother feed was essential not only for physical health of infant but also for mental ability. UNICEF Nutrition Officer Uzma Khurrum said that 33 percent of children are stunted in Punjab. She said that there is a need to put a special focus on the infants for the 1000 days right from the pregnancy. She said that there was a massive micronutrient deficiencies were found in women. She said that some 51 per cent of pregnant women were anaemic, 46 per cent suffered from vitamin A deficiency, 47.6 per cent from zinc deficiency and 68.9 per cent from vitamin D deficiency. Dr Kamran and other notables also spoke on the occasion