By Lekereni Chinkhota

Salima, August 2, Mana: Deputy Minister of Health, Halima Daudi, has called on stakeholders to promote exclusive and optimal breastfeeding to babies until they are six months old before they start being given any supplementary food and water.

Daudi made the call on Thursday at Mwalala Community Ground in Salima, during the official launch of the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week commemoration, which takes place from 1^st to 7^th August each year.

Daudi said it every person’s role to take part in promoting optimal breastfeeding for children to grow healthier citing that breast milk provides all the required nutrients to children for their growth and survival.

“When a child is born, it is supposed to be given breast milk within the first 30 minutes. The first yellow milk is important for growth of the child until the child is six months old without being given any food or water,” she said.

Daudi applauded the commitment men are showing in assisting breastfeeding women to practice optimal breastfeeding by assisting them with various tasks that would distract their schedule to breastfeeding. 

“It is very exciting to see men taking part in these interventions; something we did not have before. We used to see women going to hospitals alone to receive guidance and training on breastfeeding, but men are also taking part now,” she said.

Chief of Nutrition for United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Malawi, Dr Charity Zvandaziva, pointed out that different reasons are contributing to failure to achieve exclusive breastfeeding in both rural and urban areas.

She said breastfeeding should be supported and women facing challenges to breastfeed their babies should be given a conducive environment so that they can comfortably breastfeed their babies.

"Some parts of the country were hit by drought and these areas will be food insecure. Therefore, households with breastfeeding mothers should be supported with relief food," she said.

Member of Parliament for Salima Central, Gerald Kapiseni Phiri, underscored the important role that breastfeeding plays in the lives of babies, citing that development of the country relies on healthy citizens which starts with healthy babies.

Phiri has called upon duty bearers in the country to champion in policy making regarding breastfeeding and participation in order to uplift the welfare of babies on issues of breastfeeding.

The theme of this year’s breastfeeding week is “Closing the gap: breastfeeding support for all”