Health authorities discussed the benefits of breastfeeding in a conference last week.
Women of the South West Region have been urged to uphold exclusive breastfeeding of babies within the first six months to shield from breast cancer and obesity, among others,
Health experts from the Ministry of Public Health and UNICEF were out from 24th to 30th August, to educate mothers, families and society on the paybacks of exclusive breastfeeding. The sensitisation was to accompany the people of the Region to mark the 21st exclusive World Breastfeeding Week as a yearly event.
Health officials have linked up breastfeeding to children’s performances at school arguing that exclusive breastfeeding in the first stage of the child’s life helps as a harmonious brain developer, booster of antibodies and enabler of untroubled physical and mental growth. The health authorities, amongst which were Dr. Ejigui Jeanne of UNICEF, during a conference in Buea, used statistics to praise the rise of exclusive breastfeeding in Cameroon between 1991 and 2004 resulting in the validation of the national policy on breastfeeding.
On the contrary, they decried the sharp decline observed from 2006 to 2011 leading to a revealed child morbidity and mortality (122 percent). The experts hailed the first yellow breast milk called colostrums for the baby from the first half hour after delivery to shield against such diseases as diarrhoea and respiratory infections. Dr. Atembeh Bedifeh, immunisation head at the regional delegation of Public Health discouraged the choice of animal milk for children when their mothers are available.
