(KPL) The Ministry of Health of Laos recently reaffirmed its commitment to protect and promote breastfeeding by tightening control on the marketing of Breastmilk Substitute (BMS) products at the Global Congress on the implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes in Switzerland.

Breast milk is the first and most complete food for babies, providing them with the ideal amount of essential nutrients to ensure their healthy growth, protect them from various illnesses and give them the best start to life. However, many parents are now opting for bottle-fed BMS products because of the pressure from aggressive marketing around these products globally, which could threaten progress made in the Lao PDR to promote breastfeeding.

“Our participation in the BMS Global Congress was a moment for us to re-emphasize our commitment to control the marketing of BMS so breastfeeding in the Lao PDR can thrive,” said Vice Minister of Health Snong Thongsna, who delivered a commitment statement at the BMS Global Congress convened at the World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva from 20-22 June 2023.

The Vice Minister further highlighted the Lao Government’s full commitment to protect breastfeeding, in line with the International Code on Breastmilk Substitutes, implement the national BMS legislation by strengthening the capacity to promote breastfeeding and monitor violations under the decree. “The Ministry of Health also would like to express its appreciation to the European Union and UNICEF for their continuous support to protect and promote breastfeeding in the Lao PDR,” he further added. “With their support we have now completed training of inspectors in all 18 provinces to monitor violations at retail level.”

Although the government of the Lao PDR has paid attention to promoting children to drink only breast milk from birth to the first 6 months and to have children eat other safe and nutritious foods when the child is 6 months old and continue to eat breast milk until the age of 2 years or more, but in reality, the number of Lao children who have been exclusively breastfed for 6 months is less than half and only 1 in 4 children have been fed breast milk continuously until the age of 2. 

The protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding are key components of the Lao Government’s commitment under the National Nutrition Strategy and National Plan of Action on Nutrition (NPAN) 2021-2025. Moreover, the Lao Government also developed a legislation of the Lao BMS Code, namely the Decree on Food Products and Equipment for Infants and Toddlers, to prevent BMS violations in the Lao PDR. 

“The European Union remains committed to support the Lao Government and partners in implementing and monitoring violations of BMS legislation across different channels. We believe that by actively enforcing the BMS Decree, significant changes on breastfeeding practices will be achieved and that the Lao government will meet its national breastfeeding target,“ stated EU Ambassador to the Lao PDR Ina Marčiulionytė.

“I advocate for breastfeeding. Because not only it is a complete food; it’s also the start of that most beautiful relationship of love, bonding and attachment between a mother and her child,” said UNICEF Representative to the Lao PDR Pia Rebello Britto. “As UNICEF celebrates its 50th anniversary in the Lao PDR this year, we remain deeply committed to working shoulder to shoulder with the Lao Government and our partners to improve the support for breastfeeding for every child and our mission to ensure they have the best start to their life.”

KPL