The National Capital District Provincial Health Authority’ management and staff has commemorated the world breast feeding week. The event took place at Pari Clinic with the focus of educating all mothers about the importance of breastfeeding.
The Chief Executive Officer for National Capital District Provincial Health Authority’s Dr. Robin Oge has acknowledged the National Department of Health, UNICEF, World Health Organization (WHO) and others organizations for their partnership in prioritizing Breastfeeding as a important investment through implementation of a long-term comprehensive national strategy.
World breastfeeding Week is an annual event, aimed to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding worldwide, highlighting its critical role in child survival, nutrition, and development.
The acting Director for Curative Health Services Dr. Siwi Steven Wawe said that empowering breastfeeding is more than just a choice for every mothers-it should be a pillar of sustainable development of healthy growth of a healthy child for a healthy nation.
Mothers’ breast milk contains antibodies that help protect the baby from infectious diseases like Diarrhea, Pneumonia and other diseases compared to processed food like F26 and other dairy products.
Breast milk is vital because it provides ideal nutrition, immune protection, and developmental support for infants, while also offering health benefits for mothers.
Breast milk is so important because:
• It contains optimal nutrition
• It is rich in antibodies and bioactive compounds that boost the baby’s Immune system and protect the baby from infectious disease.
• Lower disease risk
• It helps in the Cognitive development:
• It easy for Digestion
•Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.
• It helps the uterus contract and reduces postpartum bleeding.
• Exclusive breastfeeding can delay the return of menstruation and fertility (though not foolproof).
•The act of breastfeeding fosters closeness and emotional connection between mother and baby.
Dr. Oge said that the World Breastfeeding week aims to raise awareness about these issues and advocate for supportive environments that enable successful breastfeeding practices.
“Support for breastfeeding must begin in the antenatal period, with health workers trained to provide clear, reassuring, and skilled guidance. Breastfeeding should be supported at all levels, across dimensions, across generations, across systems, workplace and communities.”
The NCD Provincial Health Authority’s management is promoting breastfeeding strategy under the nutrition program for healthy growth and development of a child in 16 health facilities in the National Capital District.
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