Breastfeeding is best says metro
The metro celebrated World Breastfeeding Week by promoting the health benefits of breastfeeding.
The metro joined the world in commemorating World Breastfeeding Week to promote health and sustainable development.
World Breastfeeding Week ran from August 1 to 7.
The metro’s maternal, child, women and men’s health manager Thembane Masina has encouraged exclusive breastfeeding by both HIV negative or positive mothers.
“For infants to survive, grow and develop as they should, they need to be exclusively breastfed.
“Doing so will strengthen their immune system, creating a resistance to life-threatening illnesses regardless of their mother’s HIV status,” Masina said.
“HIV positive, breastfeeding mothers are given a fixed-dose combination drug that is a combination of two or more ARV drugs in one pill which allows them to also exclusively breastfeed their babies, preventing mother-to-child transmission during the infant feeding period.”
ALSO READ:
Contraceptives are not a one-size-fits-all remedy
Metro expands access to healthcare by extending operating hours for 29 clinics
Breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months after birth.
After six months, breastfeeding should be continued along with other nourishing foods for the baby.
Masina further stated that mothers may have observed that health practitioners at clinics encourage breastfeeding as opposed to bottle feeding as they claim infectious bacteria may be harboured on the artificial teat.
Mothers who experience challenges with breastfeeding such as engorgement, nipple pain/trauma or when the baby won’t latch to the breast are encouraged to visit their nearest clinic for assistance.
The metro has a nutritionist and dieticians who visit Ekurhuleni primary health care facilities to educate mothers on how to effectively breastfeed.
Have a story?
Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist) kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za
Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:
Or add the GCN on WhatsApp 079 406 1181 or BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137) today, to get all the latest news.
Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers Bedfordview Edenvale News, Alberton Record and Kempton Express.
