Health
Today Uganda joins the rest of the world in observing World Breastfeeding Week from 1-7 August to raise awareness on the importance of breastfeeding for both mothers and children.
This year’s theme is ‘Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a difference for working parents’. World Breastfeeding Week is held every August to promote the health and welfare of babies, supporting good nutrition and reducing poverty and food insecurity.
The event is organised by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), which aims to protect, promote and support breastfeeding globally.
In Uganda, the launch of the World Breastfeeding Week 2023 is taking place at Imperial Royale Hotel, convened by the Ministry of Health and partners.
Breastfeeding can reduce the mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. Breastfeeding has health benefits for the mother too! Some cancers, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure are less common among women who breastfeed.
Breast milk helps keep a baby healthy by supplying all the necessary nutrients in the proper proportions. It protects against allergies, sickness, and obesity. It also protects against diseases, like diabetes and cancer. It protects against infections, like ear infections.
Breastfeeding is a natural and beneficial process that can contribute immensely to the growth and development of a child. However, for working mothers, the experience of breastfeeding can be quite challenging due to the demands of their jobs. Despite these challenges, many mothers are determined to breastfeed their babies exclusively for the recommended six-month period.
One such mother is Anita Matsika, a working mother of two who has breastfed her two daughters exclusively for different lengths of time. Matsika spent two months exclusively breastfeeding her first daughter despite her busy work schedule, while with her second daughter she managed to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months after having relocated closer to her workplace but spent a lot of money on transport to and from home to breast feed.
She says breastfeeding mothers require support and understanding from their employers, and it is unfortunate that many companies do not provide adequate support to enable nursing mothers to continue breastfeeding after returning to work. Being away from their child for long hours can make it difficult for working mothers to express milk, which can negatively impact the mother’s milk supply and eventually lead to the baby being weaned earlier than planned.
To help address this issue, it is proposed that companies should provide breastfeeding shelters to create a conducive environment for mothers to express and store breastmilk while at work. By providing a private and comfortable space, working mothers will feel supported and motivated to continue breastfeeding for the recommended period, which has long-term health benefits for both mother and baby.
Matsika says it is therefore, crucial that companies recognize the importance of providing support to breastfeeding mothers. It is a vital step towards ensuring the health and wellbeing of nursing mothers and their babies.
