Witkoppen Clinic concluded its world breastfeeding week celebrations on August 7, by encouraging mothers to embrace breastfeeding as the healthiest start to life for their babies, while providing practical support and education.

The event brought together mothers and their babies for health talks, demonstrations, and educational sessions led by healthcare professionals.

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Witkoppen Clinic business development manager Elaine Ngwenya said the annual awareness week, from August 1 to 7, serves as an opportunity to reinforce the life-saving benefits of breastfeeding, and ensure mothers have the information they need to make informed choices.

She encouraged mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months of life, explaining that breast milk naturally adapts to meet a baby’s changing nutritional needs while also providing antibodies that help protect infants from illness.

Ngwenya said the clinic also educates mothers on skin-to-skin contact, commonly known as kangaroo care, which strengthens the bond between mother and baby and contributes to healthy development.

She also addressed misconceptions around breastfeeding and HIV, explaining that mothers living with HIV can breastfeed safely if their viral load is well controlled.

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When the viral load is higher, expressed breast milk can be sterilised before feeding to reduce the risk of transmission.

“We want to make sure that our mummies are aware that breastfeeding is the most nutritious and most valuable option for their babies. No matter what challenges they face, there are ways to ensure that babies receive breast milk during those important first six months.”

Ngwenya said this year’s celebration attracted an exceptional turnout, with donations from the Omnia Group enabling every mother who attended to receive a food parcel and toiletries.

Assistant dietitian Asanda Ndzimande led an educational session explaining what breastfeeding is and why it remains the ideal source of nutrition for infants.

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Ndzimande said breast milk is safe, clean, and contains antibodies that protect babies against common childhood illnesses. It also provides all the energy and nutrients an infant requires during the first six months of life, while essential minerals such as iron, zinc, and calcium are efficiently absorbed from breast milk.

“Mothers should begin breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, practise exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continue breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary foods until two years of age and beyond.”

One of the mothers who attended the celebration, Winnie Ndembera, said she learned the value of breastfeeding for both mother and child.

Already breastfeeding her young son, Ndembera said the programme served as a timely reminder of the importance of continuing the practice and gave her a deeper understanding of its long-term benefits.

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