Government’s Efforts To Protect Children Appreciated

Government’s Efforts To Protect Children Appreciated

AKP: International organizations have expressed their appreciation of the Royal Government of Cambodia as well as the Ministry of Health for pivotal actions to keep children safe, including from the emerging COVID-19 threat.

The appreciation was reflected in a joint press release by Helen Keller International, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF that also supports the government and health ministry to take action against private companies promoting breast milk substitutes during the crisis.

The harmful business of promoting breast milk substitute is violating the international code of marketing of breast milk substitutes, and Cambodia’s sub-decree 133 on the marketing of products for infant and young child feeding and threatening the lives of the innocent in danger.

In 2014, the Royal Government of Cambodia renewed its dedication to protecting and promoting breastfeeding through the monitoring and enforcement of sub-decree 133, enforced through joint efforts led by all concerned government bodies.

According to the Lancet 2016, scaling up appropriate breastfeeding practices could prevent an estimated 832,000 child deaths globally each year.

Breastfeeding greatly contributes to children’s physical and cognitive development, protects against infection, and strengthens a child’s immune system, particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic.