By Muniratu Akweley Issah
Accra, Aug. 21, GNA – Mr Mawuli Fedieley, the Nutrition Officer, Ledzokuku Municipal Health Directorate, says a holistic approach is required to support breastfeeding mothers and ensure best practices to guarantee the health and safety of babies.
He said breastfeeding support was paramount, which would need all stakeholders: the family, community, the health sector, policy makers and the nation holistically to make breastfeeding a reality.
Mr Fedieley told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that it was necessary for everyone to get involved in championing effective breastfeeding practices, which had proven to be best child survivor indicators all over the world.
The world breastfeeding week is celebrated in the first week of August every year, a campaign that seeks to celebrate breastfeeding mothers in all their diversity, while showcasing support from families, society, community and health workers.
This year’s theme is: “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All.”
In Ghana, the whole month of August is set aside to campaign for best practices in breastfeeding for the health and safety of children.
Experts say breastmilk provides the ideal nutritional needs for babies, which serves as a foundation with lots of health benefits to the child, preventing them from infectious diseases as well as improving their intellectuality.
Mr Fedieley, however, expressed concern that most mothers, particularly working mothers, were unable to breastfeed appropriately and could have dire consequences on the growth and development of their babies.
“We realised that now, most of our mothers are working mothers, within the formal and informal sector and most of them are unable to breastfeed their babies appropriately due to unfriendly working environment and working conditions, leaving a huge gap in their growth stage.
“The Corporate Sector, Ministries, Departments and Agencies must also understand the importance of breastfeeding to create a conducive environment for the working mothers to be able to feed their babies while working,” he added.
He said breastfeeding a baby well and starting at the right time would guarantee total protection of the child up to age 40.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS), in 2020, launched a one-year infant and young child feeding campaign; “Start Right, Feed Right” to promote exclusive breastfeeding and good nutrition for young children.
The intervention was to increase initiation of breastfeeding within one hour from 52 per cent to 80 per cent by the year 2025, increase exclusive breastfeeding from 43 to 60 per cent by 2025 and the percentage of children to be fed the minimum acceptable diet from 13 to at least 30 per cent by 2025.
He said mothers must be encouraged to feed their babies with the first breast milk (colostrum) right after delivery as it was essential and prevented emergency infections including jaundice.
Such intervention was apt to support breastfeeding mothers for the survival of their children.
“We have sent letters to all institutions to be able to establish breastfeeding corners, assuring them of our support,” he added.
Mr Fedieley said families, particularly husbands, should encourage their wives to breastfeed their babies appropriately to guarantee their survival.
GNA