The President Shavkat Mirziyoyev discussed measures to protect children's health and promote breastfeeding at a government meeting Friday.
In recent years, breastfeeding rates have declined globally, while the consumption of breast-feed substitues has increased.
To achieve the World Health Organization's recommended target of 70% exclusive breastfeeding of children under six months by 2030, Uzbekistan will approve a national breastfeeding support program, according to a statement. Currently, this figure is only 25%.
As part of the program, Uzbekistan will:
- implement the WHO and UNICEF initiatives "Medical Institutions Creating Favorable Conditions for Breastfeeding" and "10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding";
- conduct training for healthcare workers and information campaigns for pregnant and breastfeeding women;
- amend legislation to restrict the advertising of breast milk substitutes;
- improve standards for manufacturing, import, export, storage, and sale of baby food products.
The Health Minister Asilbek Khudayarov told the Uzbekistan 24 channel: "In recent years, the active advertising of artificial infant powders has led to the widespread practice among young mothers of feeding their children cereals and dairy products of questionable composition and origin. As part of the project, a large-scale outreach campaign will be conducted to explain the benefits of breastfeeding".
Shavkat Mirziyoyev, approving the proposals, also gave directives to step measures to bring healthcare closer to the people, reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases, and improve the health of the younger generation.
