By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Keta (VR), Aug 01, GNA-The Keta Municipal Health Directorate in the Volta Region has urged the public to prioritise, support and convey the message of breastfeeding exercise among lactating mothers to support this year’s World Breastfeeding week.
The exercise, according to the directorate, would enable provide essential nutrients and boost immune system as well as promote bonding between mothers and their children.
Madam Dora Kugbonu, the Public Health Promotion Officer at the Keta Health Directorate, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to commemorate this year’s World Breastfeeding Week, said that the campaign, which commenced on Friday, August 1 and is expected to end on Thursday, August 7, 2025.
“Breastfeeding is widely considered as one of the most effective ways to ensure the health and well-being of infants and young children, and the aim is to campaign and help promote it,” she said.
Madam Kugbonu explained that despite the benefit of better breastfeeding exercise, many mothers still faced some challenges which include lack of support, inadequate education and unsupportive environment which could lead to low breastfeeding rates and have negative impact on the health and development of the children.
She said that in addressing such challenges, the public must help create sustainable support system such as educating and training for quality healthcare delivery, promote breastfeeding-friendly policies in the workplace and creating of public space that promote breastfeeding to enable lactating mothers to breastfeed babies successfully.
“The theme of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week emphasises on the collective role we must play in supporting mothers to breastfeed successfully,” she explained.
She urged individuals, communities, all healthcare providers, employers and policymakers to work together and collaborate to create an environment that would provide mothers to breastfeed their children without any difficulties or hindrance.
She said that prioritising breastfeeding and creating conducive environment for lactating mothers would help invest in a healthier and more sustainable future for all babies.
Madam Kugbonu added that, “Good breastfeeding practices have numerous benefits for both mothers and babies, such as improving health outcomes, reduction of healthcare costs and increase productivity and others.”
She charged stakeholders, heads of institutions, individuals among others to help create a world were breastfeeding is valued, supported and prioritised and where mothers were encouraged to have the resources they need to breastfeed their children with ease.
The GNA further gathered that the Keta Municipal Health Directorate has outlined several activities which include house to house public education in various communities within the municipality, free screening exercise among other to mark and promote the World breastfeeding week programme.
The theme of this year’s is,” Prioritising Breastfeeding: Create sustainable support system.”
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah