As part of celebrating this years’ World breastfeeding week, a Nutrition Officer at the University for Development Studies (UDS) Issahaku Huzaifa has advised mothers to practice exclusive breast feeding of their babies in their first six months.
He said ideal breastfeeding, entailed initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, followed by exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continuing for up to two years and beyond, offered a powerful line of defense against all forms of child malnutrition, including wasting and obesity. The Week, which is celebrated annually in the first week of August, is a global campaign coordinated by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, to raise awareness and galvanize action to support the effective practice of breastfeeding.
‘’Exclusive breast feeding supplies all the necessary nutrients in the proper proportions, protects against allergies, sickness, and obesity, protects against diseases, like diabetes and cancer. Breast milk protects against infections, like ear infections, it is easily digested – no constipation, diarrhea or upset stomach, and babies have healthier weights as they grow’’, he noted.
The national goal, he said, is to work collectively to safeguard the health of women and children by ensuring that every child’s right to nutritious, safe, and affordable food and adequate nutrition was realized from the beginning of life, starting with breastfeeding. He has therefore encouraged mothers to feed their babies exclusively for them to grow healthily.
Mr Huzaifa called on all stakeholders and all who had the opportunity to make investments and commitments, to support actions to reduce malnutrition including protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding through stronger policies, programmes, and actions and urged community leaders and their residents to champion the cause and serve as advocates in their respective communities. This years’ event is been commemorated on the theme; ‘’Protecting Breast Feeding, A Shared Responsibility’’.
By: Lilian D. Walter/zaaradio.com/Ghana