Health MEC joins march to promote breastfeeding

Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba, accompanied by officials from her department and other health workers last Friday led a march on a circle route from SABC Park through the city centre and back to mark the celebration of World Breastfeeding Week 2016.
This was the main event and one of various initiatives throughout the province to commemorate the theme, ‘Breastfeeding, a Key to Sustainable Development’.
The event’s aim was to raise awareness on the links between breastfeeding and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ramathuba said it was important to highlight the week as she wanted to make mothers and the public at large aware that it was natural to breastfeed. Pamphlets promoting breastfeeding were handed out at an inner city mall and taxi rank.
“It is important to give babies the benefit of breast milk, especially during the first few hours after birth. Breast milk is readily available, no sterilising is necessary, the composition is perfect for babies and there will not be diarrhoea due to poor hygiene, it gives the baby’s immune system a boost. It also enhances a mother’s bonding with the baby and is not expensive,” she said.
“It is God’s gift to us as women. We should try to breastfeed the first six months of the baby’s life and only then start to introduce solids.”
She said the notion that mothers should not breastfeed in public or in shopping centres is outdated and out of fashion. She implored employers to allow mothers time off to breastfeed their babies, as they then would not take off more time due to babies’ illnesses, as breast-fed babies are more healthy.
“Even HIV positive mothers can feed their babies when on treatment,” she said.
Ramathuba said it was easy to make mistakes when mixing formula, but breast milk is perfect as it is.
She was horrified that certain mothers just fed their babies rooibos tea and said it was not healthy on its own, as babies need their mothers’ milk.

Story: NELIE ERASMUS
>>nelie.observer@gmail.com

Featured photo: Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba is a strong advocate for breastfeeding.