Minister Zweli Mkhize: World Breastfeeding Week virtual commemoration

It gives me great pleasure to revisit and speak on a fundamental aspect of preventative health care- the importance of breastfeeding for a healthy society.

Saturday 1st August marked the start of the World Breastfeeding Week.

This year we continue to commemorate World Breastfeeding Week under the difficult challenge if dealing with the Covid-19 global pandemic.

World Breastfeeding Week remains an important strategy to reaffirm our commitment as government to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding to improve the health, nutrition and development of babies.
This year’s theme is “Support breastfeeding for a healthier South Africa”. Under the current circumstances we are mindful that families, mothers, caregivers and even some healthcare workers in particular are worried and asking many questions whether the coronavirus can be passed on through breastmilk and how can they protect themselves and their babies.

I can assure you that the Covid-19 virus has not been found in breastmilk and research evidence has shown that the virus is not transmitted through breastmilk or by giving breastmilk that has been expressed from a mother who is confirmed/ suspected to have Covid-19.

Academic experts in South Africa have established a pregnancy register to evaluate poten6al harm to pregnant women and/or their babies caused by Covid-19 infec6on. Excellent progress has been made in studying mothers and babies who have been affected by COVID-19 and the issue of breasFeeding in the context of COVID-19 came into sharp focus. Based on these studies, mothers who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are encouraged to con6nue breast feeding while prac6cing good respiratory hygiene:

  • Wearing of a mask
  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer
  • Routinely clean and disinfect surfaces

A baby’s immune system is not yet fully developed and requires the immune protection from breastmilk. This life saving protection is more important than ever right now during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Breastfeeding can protect children from many other illnesses and conditions such as diarrhoea, chest infections, diabetes, and heart disease. Nearly half of diarrhoea episodes and one third of respiratory infections are due to lack of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding also offers children long-lasting protection against conditions such as diabetes, cancer, asthma and malnutrition. And there are benefits for moms too!

Breastfeeding provides protection against postpartum haemorrhage after the baby is born. The long term benefits are that chances of getting breast cancer, ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer are reduced.

In addition, breastfeeding facilitates bonding between baby and mom by triggering the release of large amounts of oxytocin. This is also the same hormone that causes the uterus to contract thus reducing the chances of post party hemorrhage. Breastfeeding is nature’s way of protecting the physical and mental wellbeing of mothers and babies in the first critical years of life.

Breastfeeding not only provides protection against illnesses but also complete nutrition for the first six months; half or more of a child’s energy needs between 6 and 12 months and one third nutrition between 12 and 24 months. Among the reasons why there is an increase in malnutrition especially in children under five is because many mothers wean their children to quickly, large due to socio-economic pressures on women in modern times.

According to the 2016 Demographic Health Survey South Africa has an estimated 27.4% (1 in 4 children) children under the age of five being stunted (low height for a child’s age) and 3% wasted (low weight for height). Stunting is a result of chronic undernutrition. Stunting during the first two years of life is particularly damaging, and may be irreversible.

Prolonged undernutrition compromises a child’s physical and mental development and are at a higher risk of getting diseases like heart disease and diabetes in adulthood. There is a clear link between malnutrition and lack of breastfeeding. Furthermore, our current levels of exclusive breastfeeding 1 in 4 children (32%) is not good enough.

South Africa’s recommendation of optimal infant feeding is in line with the global recommendation for infant feeding. Breastfeeding should begin within the first hour after birth, and all babies – regardless of the mother’s HIV status – should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. This means only breastmilk, not even water for the first six months.

Babies need nothing else, no additional food or solids; and absolutely no infant formula. Safe, nutritious, adequate and appropriate complementary feeding should be started after six months and breastfeeding continued for two years or longer.

We would also like to take this opportunity to highlight other aspects of maternal and child care closely related to breastfeeding that are cause for concern because of the impact of COVID-19.

We have noticed that some babies and children are missing their immunisations and growth monitoring during this time. Many of the illnesses we vaccinate against – such as measles, polio and meningitis are much more dangerous for children than Covid-19.

I urge all mothers, fathers and caregivers not to default on their children’s vaccination schedules for fear of visiting a facility and contracting COVID-19. Our facilities all have a triage mechanism whereby patients with flu-like illnesses are separated from patients presenting for other reasons.

This is to ensure that access to quality health care is not compromised during the COVID-19 surge.

Despite the challenges the health system faces, I was very pleased to get a report from Dr. Leslie Bamford that the National Breast Bank has been able to keep ample stock of breastmilk throughout the period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Donated breastmilk is a critical resource in managing children who cannot breastfeed for various reasons but whose optimal treatment includes the administration of breastmilk. The vast majority of these patients are premature babies who benefit enormously from the properties contained in breast milk. I would therefore like to encourage all health care workers to contact the nearest Breast Bank if they require breast milk for their patients and to assure them that there is adequate stock at this stage.

We will continue with our efforts to support and empower mothers and primary caregivers with information on their parenting journey, even during these difficult times, from pregnancy stage until the child turns 5 years old.

Our mission as a department is to ensure our children thrive, not just survive.

Some of these platforms and interventions include MomConnect (a multi-faceted programme with over 2 million registered mothers, that creates demand for maternal health services as well as improves the supply and quality of those services) and Side-by-Side (a campaign for pregnant women and caregivers of children younger than 5 years, which uses multiple communication channels).

We have just launched Season 2 of our Side-by-Side radio shows. These radio shows are which broadcast weekly in ten official languages and aim to provide caregivers and community members with information on the full range of care that children require to ensure that they develop optimally.

To access all breastfeeding support resources and information, please visit www.sidebyside.co.za/resources. One can also join the caregiver community on www.facebook.com/SidebySideSA/ for more breastfeeding information or to enter monthly competitions.

I would therefore like to launch this year’s World Breastfeeding Week in South Africa and call on everyone including partners, healthcare workers, employers and families to play their part in creating a conducive environment for mothers to breastfeed their babies for a healthier South Africa.

Breastfeeding is a natural phenomenon- a beautiful reflection of humanity’s foundation. African culture has always embraced, indeed normalized, breastfeeding and this is a culture we need to re-inculcate in modern society.

Women must be able to feed their babies anywhere, anytime, without feeling any shame in doing so. We call on all men women to support natural breastfeeding in any environment whether it be work, in public places, in gatherings, churches or even at home when other people enter into that space.

I thank you.

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