By Saio Marrah
The Directorate of food and Nutrition at Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation(MOHS) has together with other partners launched the 2021 world breastfeeding week, that began on the 1st to 7th August, with the theme, “shared responsibility” while emphasising its health benefits to both mother and child.
The health officials therefore called on the male partners to support the mothers financially, psychologically and emotionally to enable them breastfeed effectively.
The focus of this year’s commemoration is exclusive breastfeeding of the child from the first one hour of birth to the first six months. This means the mother should not give any other food to the child during this period.
Speaking at the Ministry’s press conference on Wednesday 4th August, 2021, the Director of Food and Nutrition at the MOHS, Aminata Shamir Koroma, described exclusive breast feeding of six months as the best start for every child.
In her technical breastfeed brief, she said a study done at Brand University in 2013 shows that breast fed infants’ brain improved up 20 to 30 percent higher than formula milk fed infants. She therefore asserted that it is the reason they do well in schools.
An estimated 74% of mothers in Sierra Leone, breastfed their children, as compared to the rest of the world, with 43 percent. Exclusive breastfeeding here is 54% percent, compared to the world that is 40%, with the country now target for exclusive breastfeeding is 80% exclusive breastfeeding. She however acknowledged that malnutrition rate in Sierra Leone is still high. “In Sierra Leone we have been working very hard to improve the nutrition of status. Malnutrition is still high. Despite all the efforts, we will continue to work hard to make sure we get where we want to be,” she noted.
She said stunted growth as reported is 30 percent in the country, with one in three children stunted which really affects their cognitive development and mental capacity.
She said as a ministry, they want to see those indicators improved and that breastfeeding is crucial in combating malnutrition.
She said breast feeding does not only benefit the child, but it produces what they call oxytocin, also known as hormone, that increases relaxation, lowers stress, anxiety and blood pressure. The hormone involved increases social relationships, bonding, trust and love to the child.
Another positive impact on the mother according to Koroma is that exclusively breastfeeding leads to lower possibilities for diabetes, cancer and reduces loss of blood, maternal deaths and prevents weak bones. Exclusive breastfeeding, she said, also delays the next pregnancy. Breastfeeding immediately after delivery helps put the mother’s womb back to shape after delivery.
Highlighting the benefits of breastfeeding to the child, she said the first yellowish breast milk is like a vaccine and helps protect the child from illnesses like diarrhoea, cold and coughs.
She also noted that in the Breastfeeding Substitutes Act, they now have the opportunity to advocate as ministry for the extension of maternity leave for mothers so they can properly breastfeed their children. She also pointed out that the act makes provision for a friendly environment in workplaces for breastfeeding of a child.
“To have a baby friendly workplace is also in the act for us to advocate for, because it is needed. If you have a baby in the work place, your mind is much more at peace. Most mothers when they leave their babies at home, they start thinking if they are fed properly. Is the baby okay? But If you are few steps away from your office, in a nice friendly space, you will just go and check the baby and breastfeed it will even make you become more productive at work,” she added.
The UNICEF representative, Ms. Liv Elvin Indreiten, representing the UN family, commended the government for Breastfeeding Substitutes Act of 2021and the exclusive breastfeeding campaign, among others.
According to her, every child has the right to life, adequate food and the highest attainable standard of heath of which breastfeeding is an integral component in the realisation of those rights.
She also pointed out that breastfeeding is an essential investment towards socio economic recovery.
The Chief Nursing and Midwife Officer at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Marion Mary Fullah called on the men to take the leadership role in their homes to make sure they increase the support of their wives towards exclusive breastfeeding and making sure their children are not fed with substitutes of breast milk.
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