As part of its campaign to promote breastfeeding, the Department of Health will be observing the Breastfeeding Week that starts tomorrow, 1 to 7 August. More than half of deaths amongst children under five years of age are linked to malnutrition or lack of optimal breastfeeding.
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months compared to mixed breastfeeding (giving breast milk and other foods or fluids) has been showed to play a major role in reducing the incidence of diarrhoea, respiratory infections and allergies. Optimal breastfeeding plays a major role in survival, growth and development of infants and young children. This means the mother needs to breastfeed exclusively (only breast milk) for the first six months, followed by continuous breastfeeding for two years and beyond with the introduction of nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods at six months.
The international theme 2009 is “Breastfeeding, a Vital Emergency Response.” One of the objectives of the theme is to make sure that in emergency situations, the child’s needs come first including maintaining optimal feeding. When mothers are confronted with feeding challenges they stop breastfeeding either willingly or they may be advised to do so by family, friends or health workers.
Some of these challenges include but are not limited to the following:
* illness of the mother or baby
* there is a natural disaster such as a floods or fires and unrest
* mothers working far from home
* mothers on certain medication
The Department of Health has compiled information brochures focusing on educating mothers on how to manage these challenges and where to go for more information and practical help. These brochures and other relevant materials can be accessed from the Department of Health website.
For more information please contact:
Fidel Hadebe
Tel: 012 312 0663
Cell: 079 517 3333
Issued by: Department of Health
30 July 2009
