Africa-Press – Mauritius. In the context of the World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) 2023, a series of activities is being organised by the Ministry of Health and Wellness to mark the week.
The launching ceremony was held this morning at Le Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel, Port-Louis in presence of the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Jagutpal. WBW is celebrated every 1-7 August in commemoration of the 1990 Innocenti Declaration.
WBW started in 1992, with annual themes including healthcare systems, women and work, the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, community support, ecology, economy, science, education and human rights.
Since 2016, WBW is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The theme set by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) for this year is: “Enabling breastfeeding: making a difference for working parents.
In his address, Minister Jagutpal highlighted that the main purpose of the WBW is to target audiences including government, policymakers, workplaces, communities and parents to play their critical roles in empowering families and sustaining breastfeeding-friendly environments.
He enunciated the numerous benefits of breastfeeding including availability of antibodies and immuno-globulins which help to enhance the immunity of babies, reduce allergic conditions and infections; reduction in the burden of undernutrition and overweight, obesity or diet-related non communicable diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancers; and a decline in the risk of ovarian and breast cancer and the risk of developing postpartum depression and the risk of anaemia
In view to facilitate working mother to breast feed their children, the Minister pointed out that the Ministry adopted the World Health Organisation and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund recommendations.
Minister Jagutpal remarked that breastfeeding rates remain low in Mauritius indicating that only 20% of mothers exclusively breastfeed their child up to 6 months of age, 24% of mothers initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of delivery and 60% are assisted to initiate breastfeeding.
Research has shown that the low rate of exclusive breastfeeding contributes towards the baby developing diseases like diabetes and cancer, he stated. Consequently, he highlighted a National Action Plan on Breastfeeding has been launched in August 2022 which sets an ambitious target of exclusive breastfeeding rate of 50% by 2027.
Additionally, a multi-sectoral National Steering Committee has been established to promote breastfeeding through collaborative strategies, he added. At the legislation level, he stressed, statutory maternity leave is 14 weeks paid leave, irrespective of length of service of working mothers and the number of children they already have, and that mothers are provided with one hour break or 2 breaks of 30 minutes for breastfeeding daily.
They are equally protected against termination of employment on grounds of nursing or maternity leave and may request their employers to make necessary arrangements to nurse her unweaned child at her place of work, he underpinned.
The Ministry, through various health programmes is ensuring that exclusive breastfeeding is promoted, mothers and family are made aware of the benefits of breastfeeding, underlined the Health Minister.
He made an appeal to everyone, medical professionals, employers, colleagues and families and the society at large to support mothers who choose to breastfeed their child, even when they resume their work.
Other activities include a billboard campaign as well as the endorsement of a booklet entitled “Allaitement maternel, Capital Santé pour la vie” by the Ministry in collaboration with the association GEM; and a training of trainers on Maternal Nutrition, Breastfeeding, Infant and Child Nutrition in collaboration with Rotary Club of Bagatelle where 2 trainers from International Baby Foods Action Network (IBFAN) will conduct the training.
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