LAHORE: There is no diet or tonic that is better for the health and physical development of a newborn than breast milk, according to Professor Dr Al-Fareed Zafar, Director of the Postgraduate Medical Institute (PMGI ). He advised mothers to breastfeed their newborns for at least six months to help boost their immunity against seasonal factors, pneumonia, respiratory illnesses, flu and lung infections.
He was speaking at a lung disease seminar at Lahore General Hospital.
According to the WHO, pneumonia claims the lives of 2.6 million children worldwide each year.
A disease of the lungs and respiratory system that affects the lungs is called pneumonia. Respiratory problems, high fever, lung infection, vomiting and drowsiness are some of the patient’s symptoms.
He added that although pneumonia can affect anyone at any age and it can affect any age group, young people and physically weak people should take extra measures to avoid contracting the disease. during the winter months.
The vaccination course for newborns in the EPI program now includes the pneumonia vaccine, according to the director of PGMI, so parents must complete the course to protect their newborns.
This must be done to strengthen the immune system of children and prevent them from contracting contagious diseases like pneumonia.
He added that parents should take precautions, especially during winter, as these helpless infants cannot even roll over in bed on their own.
Every year, millions of babies die before they reach their first birthday, Professor Al-Fareed Zafar said.
Other speakers said that majority of children are deprived of other necessities in Pakistan due to lack of awareness of diseases, economic conditions and other reasons, as well as lack of resources. They are deprived of basic necessities, including healthy food, during the winter season. These children easily catch colds and flu, which turn into pneumonia every year, and for this reason, thousands of children do not reach the age of one and die of pneumonia.
Posted in Dawn, November 14, 2022
