‘Breastfeeding support for all’
Published: 05:07 PM,Jul 31,2024 | EDITED : 09:07 PM,Jul 31,2024
‘Breastfeeding support for all’
Breastfeeding has proven benefits for infants and mothers in the short and long term, but many women do not breastfeed for as long as they would like due to a lack of supportive environment, according to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO).
In Oman, the Ministry of Health (MoH) statistics show that in 2015, 93.4 per cent and in 2018, 90.8 pe rcent of mothers exclusively breastfed at birth. However, only 11.8 per cent of mothers in 2015 and 8.7 per cent in 2018 were still exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months. There has been a noticeable decline in the number of mothers breastfeeding their babies for the first 6 months.
This year, the ‘World Breastfeeding Week’ campaign from August 1 to 7 focuses on ‘Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all’, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding exclusively for the first 6 months. Globally, less than half of infants under 6 months are exclusively breastfed.
WHO recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed until 6 months of age, as it is a shared responsibility and mothers are encouraged to follow the national breastfeeding policy.
The WHO report states that breastfeeding is one of the best ways to ensure a child’s health and survival. Dr Salima al Mamary, Director of the Nutrition Department at the MoH, emphasised the benefits of breastfeeding, stating that it protects infants against many diseases and provides all the necessary energy and nutrients for their first 6 months of life.
Dr Salima advocates for compulsory breastfeeding to help combat the increasing trend of obesity and overweight among children under five years of age. She believes that getting children accustomed to natural mother’s milk can lead to healthier children.
Breast milk is considered the ideal food for infants, as it is safe, clean, and contains antibodies that protect against common childhood illnesses. Breast milk meets all the energy and nutrient needs of infants in their first months of life and continues to provide a significant portion of their nutritional needs in the second year.
Studies have shown that breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese, and have a reduced risk of diabetes later in life. Women who breastfeed also reduce their risk of breast and ovarian cancers.
In Oman, the Ministry of Health (MoH) statistics show that in 2015, 93.4 per cent and in 2018, 90.8 pe rcent of mothers exclusively breastfed at birth. However, only 11.8 per cent of mothers in 2015 and 8.7 per cent in 2018 were still exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months. There has been a noticeable decline in the number of mothers breastfeeding their babies for the first 6 months.
This year, the ‘World Breastfeeding Week’ campaign from August 1 to 7 focuses on ‘Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all’, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding exclusively for the first 6 months. Globally, less than half of infants under 6 months are exclusively breastfed.
WHO recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed until 6 months of age, as it is a shared responsibility and mothers are encouraged to follow the national breastfeeding policy.
The WHO report states that breastfeeding is one of the best ways to ensure a child’s health and survival. Dr Salima al Mamary, Director of the Nutrition Department at the MoH, emphasised the benefits of breastfeeding, stating that it protects infants against many diseases and provides all the necessary energy and nutrients for their first 6 months of life.
Dr Salima advocates for compulsory breastfeeding to help combat the increasing trend of obesity and overweight among children under five years of age. She believes that getting children accustomed to natural mother’s milk can lead to healthier children.
Breast milk is considered the ideal food for infants, as it is safe, clean, and contains antibodies that protect against common childhood illnesses. Breast milk meets all the energy and nutrient needs of infants in their first months of life and continues to provide a significant portion of their nutritional needs in the second year.
Studies have shown that breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese, and have a reduced risk of diabetes later in life. Women who breastfeed also reduce their risk of breast and ovarian cancers.