World Breastfeeding Day To Be Observed

The Deputy Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Gloria Quansah-Asare, has described breastfeeding as a food for life which helps in the optimal growth of a baby.

Dr Asare said breastfeeding also supported the mother by preventing bleeding after birth, adding that the essence of breastfeeding could not be downplayed since its impact on the child was overwhelming.

She was addressing the media in Accra, ahead of this year’s World Breastfeeding Day, which is to be observed on August 6, 2014.

The theme for this year’s World Breastfeeding Day is “Breastfeeding: A Winning Goal for Life.”

In her remarks, the National Co-ordinator of the programme, Mrs Eunice Sackey, said exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding for two years and beyond provided high quality nutrients and adequate energy for babies.

“It is affordable for everyone and does not over-burden household budgets, compared to artificial feeding,” she added.

Mrs Sackey said in promoting,protecting and supporting breastfeeding, experts recommended that the act be initiated within an hour of birth and continued for two years or beyond, with adequate complementary feeding.

A consultant to the programme, Ms Veronica Gomez, gave reasons why babies might not get enough breast milk to include delayed start of breastfeeding and poor attachment.

In checking if baby was taking enough breast milk or not, Madam Gomez said, there was the need to check the baby’s urine output, weight gain and whether or not baby was content between feeds.

She, therefore, stressed the need to link up with other groups working on human rights, sustainable development and gender groups to look at the conditions of breastfeeding at work.

Source: ISD