Saudi Gazette The modern electronic and communication devices that allow you to dive into the realms of information and connect with worldwide friends at the touch of a screen have preoccupied Saudi women to such an extreme extent that these devices are keeping them from breast feeding their babies, according to Dr. Qamari Al-Hindi, a consultant in obstetrics and gynecology at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital in Makkah. She said, “In the past, the majority of western women refrained from breastfeeding their infants. Due to immense health benefits of breast feeding a baby, the governments of many European countries assigned a monthly allowance for breast feeding mothers for the first six months of the newborn's life, to encourage more women to breast feed. And at this day and age, the obsession with modern technology has distanced Saudi women from natural breast feeding.” To promote breastfeeding and revive this practice that was recommended in the Holy Qur'an and was part of the Islamic culture and tradition for centuries, Al-Noor Specialist Hospital in Makkah has organized activities and educational lectures on the importance of breast feeding for a week. She further added, “Advances in technology have provided the modern woman with so many tools that rarely spare time and efforts for other important things in life. We must follow the footsteps of our mothers and grandmothers, who used to practice breast feeding as it ensured tremendous health benefits for both, mother and child.” According to a report by UNICEF the rate of Saudi women who exclusively breast feed their infants for the first six months of the baby's life is 31%, which is not high enough. Al-Hindi further explains that some remarkable health advantages of breast feeding are protection against bacterial infections, lower rate of sudden infant death syndrome, stronger immune system, and higher intelligence. These qualities have been witnessed in breast fed infants over formula fed infants. The Director of Al-Noor Specialist Hospital in Makkah, Dr. Ihsan Hasan Al-Ma'ajini said, “The hospital's activities will last for five days and include a range of workshops and lectures that increase awareness on the physical, psychological, economic, family, and social rewards that breast feeding offers both, the mother and her baby. Attendees from the medical profession will receive certificates that fulfill their requirements for accumulating hours in continuing medical education in the Kingdom.” __
