- Evidence shows breastfeeding protects children from infections like diarrhea, respiratory illnesses and averts deaths associated with malnutrition.
- Children who are breastfed have a lower risk of being overweight, getting types I and II diabetes, ear infections and are also observed to be more intelligent.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Kenya joined the world in marking World Breastfeeding Week, which is celebrated annually in the first week of August.
The week’s activities seek to promote breastfeeding for the survival, health and wellbeing of children, mothers and the larger community.
In the traditional African context, breastfeeding was considered a taboo subject.
However, it was generally respected, accepted and practiced. Today, social norms, demanding work schedules, poor implementation of workplace policies to support breastfeeding, inadequate early initiation of breastfeeding, limited information on breastfeeding in the wake of Covid-19 disease and penetration of unethical promotion of breast milk supplements is threatening optimal breastfeeding.
This is in addition to the myths and misconceptions in modern-day conversations aided by the invasion of social media platforms that fuel misinformation about breastfeeding.
One such misconception is that stress makes the milk ‘dry up’. The fact is that stress affects the milk let-down reflex but does not affect milk production.
Statistics show the number of infants who are exposed to breastfeeding within the recommended first hour of birth stands at 61 per cent and the number of mothers practising the recommended exclusive breastfeeding within the first six months stands at 62 percent.
These numbers are encouraging and can be improved if we all rallied together to realise the theme of this year’s celebration, 'Protect Breastfeeding; a shared responsibility'.
The 2021 World Breastfeeding Week theme challenges individuals, communities, healthcare institutions, employers, national and county leaders, the media, and implementers of the law to reflect on ways to provide adequate support systems for mothers, as infant feeding decision-making extends to the family and the wider community.
The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding to begin within the first hour after a child is born and exclusive breastfeeding for six months. Breastfeeding should continue, alongside complementary feeding, until a child is at least two years old.
This intervention is proven to have the potential to prevent 1.4 million deaths of children below five annually and to reduce early child deaths by 20 per cent.
Articles 27, 43, and 53 of the Constitution of Kenya recognise the best interest of a child as paramount. It provides that every child has the right to basic nutrition, protection from harm and parental care and protection. The change is in protecting and promoting breastfeeding.
The Ministry of Health is committed to the implementation of existing laws and regulations such as the Breast Milk Substitutes (Regulation and Control) Act 2012, Employment Act 2007, Health Act 2017, and the Operationalisation of the Breast Milk Substitutes Act (General) Regulations, 2021.
The newly approved regulations are designed to crack the whip on those undermining breastfeeding through aggressive and unethical marketing and sale of breast milk substitutes and designated products through mass media and digital marketing with the aim of influencing and overwhelming mothers with incorrect and biased information.
Manufacturers of breast milk supplements are known to target health workers to help them introduce their products to new mothers and their babies because of their proximity to the intended consumer.
The regulations spell out penalties for such organisations and individuals.
Evidence shows breastfeeding protects children from infections like diarrhea, respiratory illnesses and averts deaths associated with malnutrition.
In addition, children who are breastfed have a lower risk of being overweight, getting types I and II diabetes, ear infections and are also observed to be more intelligent with improved cognition and later in life.
Breastfeeding as recommended is associated with higher school attainment and higher incomes. Mothers who breastfeed also enjoy benefits such as control of post-delivery bleeding. Breastfeeding also lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancer and contributes to birth spacing.
These studies provide fodder for a national discourse on why breastfeeding should be considered a public health issue requiring investment at all levels. The advent of the Covid-19 pandemic raised queries on the safety of breastfeeding. It is worth noting breast milk was not found to contain traces of the virus and the benefits of breastfeeding by Covid-19 positive mothers far outweigh the consequences of not breastfeeding.
And as Kenya joins the world in calling for concerted efforts to promote breastfeeding, it remains a shared responsibility.
Regulations are helpful in guiding the marketing and sale of breast milk substitutes and designated products, but the real change towards adopting optimal breastfeeding lies in the implementation of the respective regulations, family, community and workplace support systems.
The writer is the Health Chief Administrative Secretary