Breastfeeding: a crucial issue for child health
Breastfeeding is unanimously recognized as the best source of nutrition for infants, promoting their development and health. Health authorities such as the WHO and UNICEF recommend exclusive breastfeeding until the age of six months. However, in the province of Tshopo, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the practice of exclusive breastfeeding still remains limited, with only 49.4% of mothers adopting it, according to the results of surveys carried out between 2017 and 2018. An alarming finding, especially since the province faces a high rate of child malnutrition, reaching 43.9% of children.
The various studies and surveys highlight several factors that influence the practice of exclusive breastfeeding. Among them, mother’s main occupation and work-related problems constitute significant barriers. Indeed, many mothers must juggle their role as parents and their professional obligations, which can make it difficult to reconcile exclusive breastfeeding with their job. Faced with this reality, the provincial health minister of Tshopo called on the Congolese government to put in place public policies aimed at supporting working mothers, in order to enable them to practice breastfeeding optimally. Among the suggested measures are support for early breastfeeding after birth, the establishment of more favorable maternity leave policies, flexible working hours, as well as the provision of breastfeeding spaces in work places.
World Breastfeeding Week, under the theme “Acting in favor of working mothers”, constitutes an important opportunity to raise awareness among mothers and the whole of society about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding. The objective is to promote better consideration of the challenges that working mothers face and to find solutions to facilitate the practice of breastfeeding.
In Kisangani, many activities have been planned as part of this awareness week, ranging from scientific conferences to awareness campaigns. This will involve highlighting the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, both for the health of children and for the sustainable development of society. Different stakeholders, such as health professionals, employers and policy makers, are called upon to work together to ensure an environment conducive to the practice of exclusive breastfeeding, including for working mothers.
It is essential to remember that breastfeeding is a fundamental right of the child and an effective way to promote his health and development. By investing in appropriate policies and programs, Tshopo province will be able to improve exclusive breastfeeding rates and thus help reduce child malnutrition. Breastfeeding is an act of love and solidarity towards our children, and it is our collective responsibility to support mothers in this process, for the well-being of all society.