Jakarta Globe, Dessy
Sagita, November 28, 2012
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With
breastfeeding rates still low in Indonesia, the Health Ministry has called on
medical professionals, including doctors and midwives, to stop cooperating with
infant formula producers that offer incentives for promoting their products.
“Incentives
such as going on a pilgrimage or overseas trips are clearly not allowed,” the
Health Ministry’s director general for nutrition and child and maternal health,
Slamet Riyadi Yuwono, said on Tuesday.
Formula
producers providing such incentives are violating a government regulation on
breastfeeding that was issued in March of this year.
The
regulation, which is aimed at increasing the six-month exclusive breastfeeding
prevalence rate in Indonesia, also requires companies to include a lactation
room for female workers.
“Formula
milk producers can still give sponsorship for seminars and trainings,” Slamet
explained. “But no commitments are allowed between formula milk producers and
medical professionals with regards to purchasing or product promotion.”
Slamet said
that the Health Ministry is drafting a decree that will regulate sanctions for
those who violate the government’s regulation on breastfeeding in detail.
“We’re drafting it, from the lightest to the harshest [sanctions]. Hopefully
the ministerial decree can take effect as of March 1, 2013, a year after the
regulation was issued.”
Slamet said
that the sanctions could come in the form of verbal or written warnings, or
permit revocation for companies that refuse to provide lactation rooms.
Slamet said
that the government is hoping to see the six-month exclusive breastfeeding
prevalence rate increase to 40 percent by 2014 from 26.6 percent currently.
“It’s still
very low now. [But] we’re confident it can increase to 40 to 50 percent with
the cooperation of all parties,” the official said.
Slamet
called on businessmen to see compliance with the regulation as an investment.
“We want [the companies] to see the lactation room they provide as investment
in female workers’ human capital.”
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