EDITORIAL: LET’S AIM FOR 100 PER CENT BREASTFEEDING IN TANZANIA

What you need to know:

  • The US delegation then pushed for a watered-down version that removed references to regulating aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes. The controversy was recorded on the Unicef and Malnutrition Deeply websites.

Controversy arose at the 71st World Health Assembly in Geneva recently over what should have been routine: dispensing advice on breastfeeding and breast milk substitutes. Lobbyists roundly accused the US delegation of trying to stop the tabling of a resolution on infant and young child feeding.

The US delegation then pushed for a watered-down version that removed references to regulating aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes. The controversy was recorded on the Unicef and Malnutrition Deeply websites.

This is a strong pointer to how the private sector in general, and multinationals in particular, unduly wield power regarding this issue despite consistent evidence that breastfeeding as such is far better for infants than commercially available breast milk substitutes.

Indeed, intrinsic breastfeeding is strongly supported by both the Unicef and the World health Organisation (WHO).

Therefore, there is a need to stop this aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes and, instead, support breastfeeding, if only because 13 per cent of all under-five child deaths could be prevented if breastfeeding were improved. Proven study findings indicate that “breastfeeding is a perfect and unique intervention in maternal and child mortality to create a healthier society…”

Also, the Health ministry underscores that newborn babies should exclusively be breastfed until six months-old, since mother’s milk is the best food to help them grow healthy and develop their cognitive ability.

That’s why education on breastfeeding should be imparted upon mothers, stressing that breast milk is crucial for the baby, as it is loaded with vital nutrients that are easy to assimilate.

Breast milk also contains valuable antibodies that help prevent disease, and reduce the risk of a baby developing allergies.

According to Unicef, Tanzania’s breastfeeding rate global-wise stands at 60 per cent. That’s not good enough. We should aim higher and strive harder for good early childhood health and development through breastfeeding.