Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Samson Mndolo says breastfeeding plays a critical role in a child’s development and survival as such the country needs a more supportive environment for the practice.
Speaking at Capital Hill in Lilongwe on Friday during the launch of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week under the theme ‘Prioritise breastfeeding: Create sustainable support systems’, he conceded that Malawi is facing challenges not only in breastfeeding practices but also in its broader food systems.
Said Mndolo: “Some lactating mothers fail to properly breastfeed their babies because they are not given an environment that allows them to do so.
breastfeeding shelters. | Nation
“At workplaces, mothers should have access to breastfeeding shelters and feeding breaks to ensure their children are adequately nourished.”
He observed that stunting remained high at 38 percent while anaemia affects 33 percent of women aged between 15 and 39 and a staggering 63 percent of children.
Mndolo has since appealed to all stakeholders, including employers, communities and health service providers, to tackle cultural norms that hinder breastfeeding and to invest in structured systems that empower women.
Taking her turn, World Health Organisation country representative Dr. Neema Kimambo echoed the calls for the need for systemic change, urging government to equip health workers with the right skills and tools to support exclusive breastfeeding from birth to six months.
“Health workers must be trained to initiate and support early breastfeeding in a child-friendly environment,” she said.
World Breastfeeding Week is commemorated every first week of August to promote the health and well-being of infants through improved breastfeeding practices.
This year’s global campaign seeks to encourage policies and practices that enable women to breastfeed effectively both at home and in the workplace.
