Sundaymail Editor
Kudakwashe Ruzive
Acting Minister of Health and Child Care Professor Amon Murwira on Friday officially launched the National Breastfeeding Week (August 1 to August 7, 2021), which will be commemorated under the broader 2021 World Breastfeeding Week.
The global theme is ‘Protecting Breastfeeding – A shared responsibility.’
Breastfeeding Week is commemorated during the first week of August every year.
It is meant to encourage breastfeeding and improve babies’ health.
Said Professor Amon Murwira: “Breastfeeding ensures child survival and investment to future generations. During the first week of August each year, more than 120 countries worldwide, including Zimbabwe, commemorate breastfeeding.”
Due to The Covid-19 pandemic, many mothers are afraid of breastfeeding when they have tested positive to Covid-19 or when they are showing symptoms.
“Regarding this, mothers with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 are encouraged to initiate and continue to breastfeed and to remain with their infant and practice skin-to-skin contact. We recommend that she wears a mask when breastfeeding or caring for the child. There is no need to stop breastfeeding,” said Prof Murwira.
Due to Covid-19-induced lockdowns, most parents are working from home, providing them with an opportunity to spend more time with their children.
“This rise in marketing of breastmilk substitutes influences social norms and contributes to the wrong perceptions that infant formula is comparable to or better than breast milk.
“As the Ministry of Health and Child Care, we now focus on the need to provide a chain of support or continuum of care from the time a woman is pregnant until the child reaches two years.
“Government has made strides to ensure that working mothers are afforded a breastfeeding hour each working day. In 2019, the Parliamentary Women Caucus put forward a motion that called for support of breastfeeding women,” he said.
In March 2021, the Parliament of Zimbabwe established a lactation room for staff and legislators. Women can leave the Parliament chambers and go to the private room where they can breastfeed, or express and store their breastmilk for feeding their child later.
Breastfeeding is important for a child as it provides the best possible start in life.
It provides health, nutritional and emotional benefits to both mother and children.
Online Reporter