Gauteng health department urges mothers to breastfeed their babies

The Gauteng health department has voiced concerns about the rate of low exclusive breastfeeding, which currently sits at 48.6%.

As South Africans join the world to commemorate World Breastfeeding Week (from August 1-7), provincial acting Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has urged society to unite and re-establish a breastfeeding culture.

READ: Mothers encouraged to breast-feed during Covid-19

“In Gauteng, we have been able to encourage mothers to breastfeed within an hour after birth at a rate of 74.9%. However, we are concerned the rate of exclusive breastfeeding is low. Let us collectively encourage mothers to breastfeed and also create a conducive environment for breastfeeding,” Nkomo-Ralehoko said.

She added exclusive breastfeeding had shown to play a major role in reducing the incidence of diarrhoea, respiratory infections and allergies.

Meanwhile, South African Breastmilk Reserve, which turned 19 this year, said there was a declining number of donors.

According to the organisation, which currently feeds 3 864 babies, the declining number of donors was fewer than 900 compared to 2020/21 due to lockdown and donor mothers working from home.

The World Health Organisation and the national department of health have recommended that mothers initiate breastfeeding within an hour of birth and exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary food for up to two years.

The organisation also recommended early and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact, rooming-in and kangaroo mother care, which significantly improve neonatal survival and reduce morbidity.