PHILIPSBURG–The Health Ministry’s Collective Prevention Services (CPS) urges mothers to make breastfeeding a priority.
CPS’ comments comes as World Breastfeeding Week comes to an end on August 7, after being observed around the globe from August 1 under the theme “Foundation of Life.”
CPS encourages women to make breastfeeding a priority once their child is born, as it has life-long benefits for the new-born child. “Consider situations for which we have no control of, such as in natural disasters, breastfeeding becomes even more important and has been proven to save lives. Breastmilk is the cleanest and safest food for an infant,” CPS said in a press release on Monday.
Children who were breastfed are healthier and learn better, according to research that suggests breastfeeding may contribute to aspects of sustainable development, according to information from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).
According to PAHO, “Breastfeeding gives all human beings the opportunity to have a fair start in life. Breast milk is the best food and the safest option to ensure good health and growth of young children. There is strong evidence demonstrating the multiple benefits of breastfeeding for the mother, the child and society as a whole.”
In the region of the Americas 54 per cent of children start breastfeeding within the first hour of life, only 38 per cent are breastfed exclusively until six months of age, and 32 per cent continue breastfeeding for two years.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says an estimated 78 million babies – or three in five – are not breastfed within the first hour of life, putting them at higher risk of death and disease and making them less likely to continue breastfeeding. This is based on a report from UNICEF and WHO. WHO says the report notes that new-borns who breastfeed in the first hour of life are significantly more likely to survive. Even a delay of a few hours after birth could pose life-threatening consequences.
“Skin-to-skin contact along with suckling at the breast stimulate the mother’s production of breastmilk, including colostrum, also called the baby’s ‘first vaccine’, which is extremely rich in nutrients and antibodies,” WHO says.
Breastfeeding contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), approved by the United Nations in September 2015 as a global agenda for action to end poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change by 2030. CPS supports and promotes breastfeeding.
Persons can contact the Breastfeeding Committee at telephone number 542-3003 and look out for the next Breastfeeding Café.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/79326-cps-urges-moms-to-breastfeed
View comments
Hide comments