Picture: A woman breastfeeding her child/Google
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha calls on workplaces to ensure that there are adequate breastfeeding facilities and become breastfeeding-friendly. The department marks the World Breastfeeding Week from 1 until 7 August 2023 under the theme: “Enabling breastfeeding and making a difference for working parents.”
Sambatha further said he has recognised that, workplace challenges often are one of the most common contributory factors for women to stop breastfeeding their babies sooner than recommended. He added that they call on corporations to become breastfeeding friendly.
“If South Africa is to reach the 2025 United Nations (UN) target of an exclusive breastfeeding rate of 50% for the first six months of an infant’s life, we need to empower and support women who breastfeed in our organisations.
“Some of the challenges faced by breastfeeding mothers returning to work include a lack of time to breastfeed their babies. With hectic work schedules, it can be difficult for mothers to find the time to breastfeed regularly,” he said.
Sambatha said another challenge the working mums face is that, some workplaces do not have proper nursing rooms for breastfeeding mothers due to various reasons. He said this was part of the reasons given by working mothers, who have opted to discontinue breastfeeding exclusively and resorted to alternative methods such as formula feeding or introducing infants to solids much earlier than the recommended age.
“Having unsupportive managers is another challenge that working mums who breastfeed face. Even if the workplace has facilities that can accommodate working mothers, many companies have not implemented accommodative practices for their breastfeeding employees.
“We are now using the world commemorations of Breastfeeding Week to remind mothers of the benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers and infants. Breast milk is uniquely tailored to meet the nutritional needs of infants, providing essential nutrients, antibodies, and hormones that promote healthy growth and development,” said Sambatha.
He said it offers protection against various illnesses, such as respiratory infections, gastrointestinal issues, and allergies. Sambatha said it further nurtures a deep emotional bond between the mother and child, promoting security, comfort, and closeness.
“The health professionals recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. No other food or liquid is needed during this period. Continued breastfeeding for two years or longer with the introduction of appropriate complementary foods is also ideal.
“The crucial function performed by the four districts’ Breast Milk Bank Facilities in the province, as well as the importance of Donor Breast Milk (DBM) and nursing in lowering infant mortality and morbidity at the beginning of the human development chain, with a special emphasis on premature neonates,” he said.
Sambatha said, currently, the province has Breast Milk Bank facilities hosted in public hospitals across all four districts. He said they operate from Potchefstroom, Mahikeng Provincial, Joe Morolong Memorial, and Job Shimankana Tabane Hospitals respectively.
The Guardian 