BREASTFEEDING; THE BEST FOUNDATION FOR A CHILD’S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breastfeeding is the normal way of providing young infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. This basically tells that, breastfeeding is essential to the growth of an infant due to the fact that breast milk contains all the nutrients that provides the nourishment an infant needs to survive and thrive. The benefits of breastfeeding is not only enjoyed by the child but the mother as well who provides the breast milk. The mothers are mostly not aware of what they gain in return when they breastfeed their children otherwise, mothers who are hesitant in breastfeeding properly would even be willing to do more if they realize they also gain from breastfeeding their children.

While breastfeeding is a natural act, it is also a learned behaviour which every mother must learn to do, so as to ensure that the infant is not denied the right to survive if the mother finds it difficult to breastfeed due to lack of information on how to perform the act.

Interacting with some breastfeeding mothers in an Accra based community clinic, they explained that they are being educated on how to breastfeed their babies and are even made to demonstrate what they are taught to prove their understanding. Breastfeeding they said, ensures growth of the child therefore do not hesitate to breastfeed their babies as and when they need to and per the information they are provided with at the facility.

According to Gloria Acheampong who is a business woman, she was taught to breastfeed her child every two hours or an hour and half. This she said compels her to wake her baby up from sleep to feed her when she realizes that the feeding period has elapsed. She added, “I am able to pay much attention to breastfeeding my child because I have a supportive family especially my husband who takes care of other duties in order for me to focus on the child’s well- being”. Gloria added that she faces no challenge in breastfeeding the child and also practices exclusive breastfeeding since it helps to save money among other benefits.

ESSENCE OF BREASTFEEDING

Madam Theresah Ayeh is a Midwifery Officer with one of the clinics in Accra. According to her, breastfeeding mothers receive education on breastfeeding from midwives at health facilities during antenatal care. “This is to enable them give maximum care to their babies of which breastfeeding is a major aspect”. She said.  Madam Theresah explained that breastfeeding is a form of Family Planning” as it helps to delay pregnancy. She describes breast milk as the “ultimate” which every child needs to grow well and prevents so many illnesses. Based on this she says, “we at the facility level teach the women how to attach the babies and breastfeed them properly so they do not find it challenging”. World Breastfeeding Week she said is important in order to raise awareness for mothers to breastfeed their babies properly.

Breastfeeding has the tendency of reducing most childhood illnesses such as pneumonia as well as diarrhoea and also preventing ovarian and breast cancers which are the leading causes of death among women. It reduces the child’s risk of getting cavities as it also prevents obesity on the part of child and mother. Not forgetting that, it also reduces the child and mother’s risk of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Exclusively breastfeeding a child has also got its own benefits to the child. The World Health Organization (WHO) discloses that, it enables the infant to achieve optimal growth, development and health. With this, the child has to be given breast milk exclusively for six months.

In a conversation with Andrews Gyampoh, a Safety Officer who escorted his wife who is a nursing mother to the clinic for postnatal care, he revealed that he supports exclusive breastfeeding completely due to the benefits it has on the child. “I make sure the mother eats foods that will enable the production and increase of breast milk so the child’s well-being is always assured.” He admonished fathers to gain helpful information to share with their breastfeeding mothers for the welfare of the infant and mother.

For Nii Odai Anang, a taxi driver, he complained that some career women mostly do not dedicate much time breastfeeding their children and rather resort to various kinds of formula which may not be healthy for the child. He had cited an instance where a child was admitted at a facility due to the mother’s inability to breastfeed the child consistently.

A study in Kintampo, a town in Brong Ahafo region of Ghana indicated that, initiating breastfeeding within the first hour of birth could save 22% of new-born deaths. It is added that, new-borns who began breastfeeding between two and twenty- three hours of birth had a 33% greater risk of dying compared with those who began breastfeeding within one hour of life. The report also indicates that, for close to a decade exclusive breastfeeding has moved from 52% to just 62%. Therefore, the need to create more awareness.

LINKAGE WITH THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

Breastfeeding is key to Sustainable Development Goals since it does not only provide healthy foundation for a child but also foundation for a nation’s development. This is because supporting breastfeeding is the smartest investment a country can make due to its long term benefits on citizens, as it provides long- term strength.

Breastfeeding is critical in achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and well- being) which involves ending hunger, improving nutrition and promoting health and well- being. It is also a natural and low- cost way of feeding babies. It is affordable and helps to reduce hunger, thereby achieving SDG 1.

In addition, breastfeeding and adequate complementary feeding are fundamentals for readiness to learn. It significantly contributes to mental and cognitive development and thus promote learning thereby, helping to achieve SDG 4 which includes inclusive education and lifelong learning. Inequality is reduced when children are breastfed since they receive equal nutrients to enhance their optimal growth and development. This will ensure the achievement of SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

Breastfeeding women who are supported by their employers are more productive and loyal. This calls for flexible policies at workplaces to enable breastfeeding women perform their duties and also enhance their health and well- being. This goes a long way to enhance productivity and economic growth. There is the need to support breastfeeding mothers to enhance development and reduce child deaths.

Mavis Naa Korley Aryee

Member, Intern,

CYIB-Curious Minds