Embrace breast feeding


Lazarus Sauti

The African continent is losing a significant number of children due to preventable diseases.

This loss is caused by mothers who are neglecting breast feeding. Thus, breastfeeding still requires a lot of support if the continent is to achieve the millennium development goal (MDG) of reducing child mortality to 34 per 1000 live births by 2015.

Accordingly, Africa could significantly reduce the number of infants who are dying from common childhood diseases if mothers adhere to exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.

“The advantages of breastfeeding exclusively are well documented as breast milk contains anti-bacterial and anti-viral agents as well as high levels of Vitamin A that protects infants against diseases,” Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care National PMTCT and HIV Care and Treatment Co-ordinator, Dr Angela Mushavi said.

It is critical to note that approximately 1.3 million deaths could be prevented each year globally if infants under six are breastfed exclusively.

More so, babies under two months who are not exclusively breastfed are six times more likely to die from diarrhoea or respiratory infections than those who are breastfed.

 

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