Policies to protect breastfeeding women from climate impacts stressed

Islamabad : Coordinator to the prime minister on climate change Romina Khursheed Alam on Wednesday underscored the benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers and infants, including its provision of essential nutrients, immune support, and emotional bonding.

“Breastfeeding supports healthy development, strengthens the mother-infant bond and yields positive economic and environmental impacts. However, promoting and supporting breastfeeding through education, policy and community support can improve individual health and contribute to a sustainable future,” Ms Romina told a seminar on ‘National Advocacy & Sensitisation with Parliamentarians on World Breastfeeding Awareness Week' here. The event was organised by Save the Children in partnership with the Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Ministry, World Health Organisation, United Nations Children's Fund, and the World Food Programme.

The aide to the prime minister highlighted the negative impacts of climate change on maternal nutrition, noting that Pakistan’s extreme weather, water shortages, and shifts in agriculture are affecting food security and maternal and child health. She called for the development of policies and action plans to shield breastfeeding women from the worsening effects of climate change, such as floods and heatwaves.

“As climate change exacerbates poverty and food insecurity, women and children, who are the most vulnerable, face increased risks of malnutrition,” she said. Ms Romina advocated for incorporating climate resilience into national nutrition programmes, promoting sustainable agriculture, ensuring resilient food systems, and prioritising nutrition in climate adaptation strategies.

She emphasised that breastfeeding was crucial for the nation’s future, improving maternal, child, and adolescent nutrition. The prime minister's coordinator complained that despite the known benefits of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months was not widespread enough.

She urged health policymakers, practitioners, and children's rights advocates to strengthen efforts to promote and protect breastfeeding, calling for a unified approach from healthcare professionals, community leaders, policymakers, and the media.

Ms Romina also stressed the need to dispel myths and support mothers, particularly in rural areas with limited healthcare and said family-friendly policies, including paid maternity leave, flexible work hours, and quality childcare, were essential for supporting mothers and their children and contributing to a resilient workforce. While acknowledging government progress in improving maternity leave and family-friendly policies, she stressed the need for broader implementation, particularly in the private sector.

Earlier, Muhammad Naee­m from Save the Children International Pakistan reaffirmed the organisation's dedication to children's health and survival.