South Sudan’s Health Minister Yolanda Awel Deng has said mother’s milk is the best way to give babies a healthy start in life.
Speaking on the occasion to mark World Breastfeeding Week in Juba on Thursday, Deng urged mothers to exclusively breastfeed their newborns for six months to guarantee their healthy development.
“We have got laws in South Sudan to protect mothers, but those laws must be implemented. The health, the social and economic benefit of breastfeeding for a child and mother have been established across the world,” she said.
“When you breastfeed, sometimes it helps you mentally, emotionally and physically. Most of the women that breastfeed absolutely for the first six months are very healthy.”
UNICEF Representative in South Sudan Hamida Lasseko re-emphasized that breastfeeding contributes to the development and the strengthening of the baby’s immune system.
I am just re-emphasizing that breastfeeding contributes to the development and the strengthening of the baby’s immune system. However, most importantly, it gives that psychological support, she said.
The people who have breastfed know what I am referring to by the psychological support, she added, pointing out the eye contact between the baby and the mother during breastfeeding leaves a life-long impression.
WHO Representative Dr Humphrey Karamagi said nutrition remained a huge challenge in South Sudan.
“While a lot of progress has been made in South Sudan, I think we still have quite a long way to go. We need to really double our efforts to be able to improve this situation. We know nutrition is a huge challenge in life within South Sudan,” Karamagi said.
Held under the theme; Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for all, the day is dedicated to promoting public awareness on exclusive breastfeeding and infant nutrition.
Breastmilk, experts say, is a nutritional powerhouse for infants, providing all the essential nutrients in the first six months of life to two years.
It acts as a powerful immunization against life-threatening diseases, preventing diarrhea and respiratory infections.