MEC leads benefits of breastfeeding march
Several people took part in the World Breastfeeding Week march in the city on Friday 5 August.
POLOKWANE -The march was held to raise awareness of the links between breastfeeding and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals initiative. Several marches took place across the country between 1 and 7 August. The march in Polokwane was led by the MEC for the Department of Health in Limpopo, Dr Phophi Ramathuba. It started at the SABC Park and ended at Limpopo Mall where Ramathuba addressed the women in attendance on the importance of breastfeeding for both mother and baby.
“Breastfeeding is not only the cornerstone of a child’s healthy development; it is also the foundation of a country’s development. We as the department encourage mothers to breastfeed and help create a generation of breastfeeding mothers and healthy babies,” she said.
The benefits of breastmilk for babies:
• It contains ideal nutrition for infants with a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat, everything your baby needs to grow.
• It is digested easily.
• It contains antibodies that help your baby fight viruses and bacteria.
• It also lowers your baby’s risk of developing asthma and allergies.
Benefits of breastfeeding for mothers:
• It burns extra calories, so it can help you lose your pregnancy weight faster.
• It releases the hormone oxytocin, which helps your uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size and may reduce uterine bleeding after birth.
• It also lowers your risk of breast and ovarian cancer and may lower your risk of developing osteoporosis.
During the march, posters displaying information on breastfeeding were carried to inform motorists and pedestrians of the benefits of breastfeeding.
