By Foday Moriba Conteh
In Commemorating World Breastfeeding Week, which is celebrated from August 1-7, focusing on addressing inequalities in breastfeeding support and prevalence, highlighting the importance of breastfeeding as an equalizer in society, the Directorate of Food and Nutrition at the Ministry of Health has on Wednesday 31st July, 2024 joined the world to commemorate World Breastfeeding Week on the global theme: “Closing the Gap – Breastfeeding Support for All.” The celebration, which brought together key stakeholders, was held at the Atlantic Lumley Hotel in Freetown.
In her presentation, Aminata Shamit Koroma, Chief Nutritionist and Director at the Ministry of Health’s Directorate of Food and Nutrition, said the event aimed to inform the public about these disparities, engage stakeholders and galvanize action to support vulnerable groups in their breastfeeding journeys.
She emphasized the unique and empowering experience of breastfeeding for mothers and children, sharing the Directorate’s vision for a healthy, well-nourished population. She highlighted the current nutrition situation in Sierra Leone, noting a general decrease in child malnutrition, though challenges remain with stunting and acute malnutrition among children under five.
She detailed the high rates of breastfeeding initiation and exclusivity achieved in Sierra Leone, noting that the country has met the 2030 World Health Assembly target of an exclusive breastfeeding rate of at least 50%. However, stressing the need for continued efforts to reach the Government’s target of a 75% exclusive breastfeeding rate by 2030.
The presentation also highlighted key achievements, including the roll-out of the Breast Milk Substitute (BMS) Act to policymakers and health professionals, the national implementation of the Stronger with Breastmilk Only (SWBO) initiative, and the strengthening of Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative facilities. Additionally, the Directorate revised national complementary food recipes for children aged 6-23 months and conducted nationwide food and cooking demonstrations.
Aminata Shamit Koroma provided several recommendations to enhance optimal nutrition for infants and young children. She called for strengthening multi-sectoral partnerships to reduce malnutrition, scaling up the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative in all districts and conducting robust media sensitization on optimal infant and young child feeding. She also emphasized the importance of implementing, monitoring, and evaluating maternity protection provisions.
Further recommendations included supporting mothers antenatally and postnatally to plan their leave to enable exclusive and continued breastfeeding, guaranteeing the stipulated 14 weeks of maternity leave and providing breastfeeding rooms and breaks for working mothers. She also urged the implementation of the Breastmilk Substitute Act 2021 by the BMS Advisory Committee and encouraged families and communities to support sustained breastfeeding.
Aminata Shamit Koroma concluded by urging everyone to get involved in the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding, emphasizing its critical role in improving maternal and child health outcomes in Sierra Leone.
LivElin Indreiten, representing the UN Family, spoke about the fundamental rights and benefits of breastfeeding. “Breastfeeding is not only the perfect nutrition for infants but also fosters a crucial emotional bond between mother and child,” she stated. Indreiten emphasized that breastfeeding is a cornerstone of early childhood development and a vital tool in reducing social inequalities. She also highlighted the need for supportive environments, such as workplaces and communities, for breastfeeding mothers.
Indreiten noted progress in Sierra Leone’s breastfeeding rates, with an improvement of nearly 33%. However, she pointed out a recent decline, with exclusive breastfeeding rates dropping from 62% in 2017 to 53% in 2021. “Sierra Leone had previously met the global target for exclusive breastfeeding but has not achieved its national target of 70%,” she said, urging new mothers to commit to exclusive breastfeeding.
Honorable Catherine ZainabTarawally, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, promised that the Committee would collaborate with the Ministry of Trade to address barriers to exclusive breastfeeding, including closing businesses that obstruct breastfeeding efforts.
Mohamed Fort, Program Manager at Focus 1,000, called for continued collaboration to promote exclusive breastfeeding. He affirmed that Focus 1,000 is ready to work with the Government to advance breastfeeding practices. “Investing in breastfeeding not only enhances child health and saves lives but also contributes to human capital development,” he concluded.
In her keynote address, Manti Tarawalli, Minister of State, Office of the Vice President, called on everyone to support and encourage exclusive breastfeeding practices. “This year’s theme is a call to action for all of us to support new mothers in their breastfeeding journey,” she said. Minister Manti Tarawalli emphasized that breast milk provides all the necessary nutrients a child needs and is vital for preventing malnutrition and associated health issues.
The Minister revealed Government plans to implement a “one chain for breastfeeding support,” stressing the role of communities in promoting breastfeeding. She highlighted the critical issue of malnutrition, noting that it is often underestimated despite being a leading cause of infant mortality in Sierra Leone. “Malnourished children are significantly more susceptible to diseases, with a much higher likelihood of mortality,” she added.
Manti Tarawalli underscored the importance of breastfeeding in combating malnutrition, stunting and other health problems. “Breast milk is rich in antibodies that help infants fight viruses and bacteria and supports brain development,” she said. The Minister assured that the Ministry of Health is dedicated to promoting optimal infant feeding practices and praised the Feed Salone initiative, which aims to provide nutritious food to all pregnant women across the country.
