AFRICA – UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) have urged African governments, donors, civil society and the private sector to allocate increased resources to protect, promote and support breastfeeding policies and programmes in commemoration of World Breastfeeding Week 2022.

UNICEF and WHO are calling on African governments to equip health and nutrition workers in facilities and communities with the skills they need to provide quality counselling and practical support to mothers to successfully breastfeed.

In addition, governments were advised to fully adopt and implement the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes in global efforts to protect caregivers and health care workers from the unethical marketing influence of the formula industry.

African nations were also encouraged to implement family-friendly policies that provide mothers with the time, space and support they need to breastfeed during this year’s World Breastfeeding Week under the theme “Step up for breastfeeding: Educate and Support”.

According to the World Health Organization, it is important for mothers to offer colostrum, the first form of breastmilk released after giving birth, to newborns as it is high in nutrients, antibodies and antioxidants.

WHO recommends early initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, feeding the child only breast milk for the first 6 months and continuing to breastfeed for up to 24 months or beyond, with the introduction of timely, nutritionally adequate and safe complementary, solid foods at 6 months.

As global crises continue to threaten the health and nutrition of millions of babies and children, the vital importance of breastfeeding as the best possible start in life is more critical than ever

Breastfeeding provides children the best start in life specifically a child’s nutritional and immunological needs, helps to prevent infections, promotes bonding between mother and child while providing food and nutrition security to infants from the very beginning of life.

The Ministry of Health and Human Services in Somalia, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and WHO have called for a concerted effort from all actors to ensure breastfeeding-friendly environments for mothers and babies in all health facilities and workplaces in the country.

As part of the Federal Ministry of Health’s national nutrition strategy 2020–2025, countrywide efforts will be scaled up with the primary goal to increase the number of babies aged 0–6 months old who are exclusively breastfed to above 50% by 2025.

HE Dr Fawziya Abikar Nur, Somalia’s Federal Minister of Health and Human Services urged parents, families, community leaders, policy-makers and development partners to actively step up capacity and transform systems at all levels to support breastfeeding adequately.

In addition, breastfeeding awareness campaigns will be launched throughout the country during this year’s World Breastfeeding Week while skilled breastfeeding counselling will be provided in various settings including health facilities and clinics and through home visits by community health workers.

At the same time, Malawi’s Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organization and UNICEF has launched an awareness campaign which will run from 1st to 7th August 2022 to highlight the importance of breastfeeding and its need in the lives of babies and mothers.

WHO is currently supporting Malawi in training health workers to provide skilled support to breastfeeding mothers, help them overcome problems and monitor the growth of children in a bid to accelerate and maintain the country’s good score in optimal breastfeeding.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government of Nigeria is targeting an increase of 50 per cent in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding before the 2025 World Health Assembly while notable stakeholders have called for the creation of safe spaces in workplaces to promote breastfeeding in nursing mothers.

Other baby-friendly initiatives in Nigeria include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has commenced implementation of the Accelerating Scale of Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (ASMIYCN) project in Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Borno, Bauchi, Yobe and Lagos states.

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