Last week the Ministry of Health and Sanitation kick-started a week long exclusive breast-feeding campaign in commemoration of World Breastfeeding Week. The theme for this year’s commemoration is: “Empowering Parents Enable Breastfeeding”. The event takes place in the first week of August every year.

Speaking at a press conference to launch the start of the event, the Director of Food Nutrition in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sister Aminata Kamara expressed her confidence that the ministry together with the New Direction government is very determined in making sure that the country completes 80% of exclusive breastfeeding by 2030. She further said that breastfeeding is very important to the well being of the child, adding that it is God’s natural gift for the baby.

She added that the first six months is important to the life of every child by exclusive breastfeeding. “We will be embarking on one week sensitization to create more awareness on exclusive breastfeeding particularly to parents,” the Director stressed. She further explained that currently, over 80% suckling women are willing to breastfeed their children.

Sister Kamara pleaded to all suckling mothers to give the best to their children by exclusively breastfeeding them. By doing this, she assured this will protect the children from frequent illness. “It will build the child’s brain cells and help them develop both mentally and physically,” she noted.

On his part, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Amara Jambai said breastfeeding campaign is a never ending event which aims at promoting the well-being of both mother and child.

He added that with exclusive breastfeeding, the child stands to overcome several health challenges and used the opportunity to call on men to give the necessary support to their women with regard exclusive breastfeeding.