By:Problyn J Alpha
The Nutrition Department District Health Management Team ( DHMT) Kono has on Friday 4th August 2023 celebrated this year’s world breastfeeding week at the DHMT Conference hall Bona street koidu city on the Theme “Enabling Breastfeeding Making Difference for Working Parents”.
In her welcome address, the Kono district health sister one Sylvia kobbie who represented the district medical officer Kono Dr. Mohamed Sheku thanked all for attending the celebration.
She told the audience that exclusive breastfeeding starts from zero to six months, noting globally medical practitioners are targeting 50 percent for exclusive breastfeeding come 2025.
She disclosed government plans increasing it to 75 percent in 2025 and as a result feeding bottle which used to be the order of the day has drastically dropped among suckling mothers.
Giving the overview of this year’s world breastfeeding week in Kono district, the senior district nutritionist attached to the District Health Management Team Kono madam Kadiatu koroma maintained that for every aspect in 2014 the participation of the district interns of breastfeeding was very satisfactory but however pointed out the following as some of the challenges faced in the district with regard exclusive breastfeeding: Traditional and Cultural believes , negative attitude of suckling mothers especially school mothers for the fear of their breasts not to be flying on their chects including the lack of good meal or food.
Whilst frowning at what she called ” Barfah” the senior district nutritionist maintained that exclusive breastfeeding enhances the well-being and growth of children.
She said the importance of exclusive breastfeeding is not only limited to children but also their mothers, citing the following as the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for suckling mothers: Family planning, healthy living at both young and aged stages and it maintains proper hygiene.
Making a statement, one of the sisters at the maternity unit working for Partners In Health (PIH) Mary Kaifineh foremost underscored the theme for the celebration.
She said owing to the Theme for this year’s world breastfeeding week celebration he expressed Breastfeeding if proper hygiene is maintained, it is acceptable and urged suckling mothers to give the first yellowish milk of their breasts to their children as it has medicinal purpose.
She described “Barfah” as poor personal hygiene and therefore urged every suckling mother to be always clean.
Statements from representatives of Network Movement For Justice and Development, World Vision Sierra Leone, Orange Sierra Leone mobile Company and the Sierra Leone police were also made while the presentation of gifts and certificates to suckling mothers and exclusively breastfed kids climaxed the celebration.
