DAR ES SALAAM: THE Aga Khan Health Service (AKHS) Tanzania has expressed its commitment to cooperate with the government to advocate for and normalise breastfeeding, as well as to create breastfeeding-friendly environment across their facilities.
The remark was made by AKHS Tanzania Chief Executive Officer Sisawo Konteh at the launch of the World Breastfeeding Week 2024 held in Dar es Salaam.
The world celebrates this week in the first week of August every year.
“We will continue to complement and support government, healthcare actors, community actors and society at large to advocate and normalize breastfeeding and create breastfeeding-friendly environments across our facilities,” Mr Konteh.
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Konte said this year’s theme, “Closing the Gap: Breastfeed Support for All.” underscores the critical need to provide comprehensive support for breastfeeding mothers and their families.
“This theme emphasises the importance of universal support for breastfeeding, aiming to bridge gaps and ensure that all mothers receive the guidance and resources they need,” he emphsised.
Moreover, he said they will use this week to raise the public awareness about breastfeeding knowledge and practices.
“Attendees will benefit from free awareness sessions on appropriate nutrition for breastfeeding mothers, which are crucial for both maternal and infant health,” he added.
He said the Aga Khan Hospital has planned a series of outreach activities throughout the week including partnering with other hospitals in Dar es Salaam to spread awareness and offer support to new mothers and pregnant women, extending the reach and impact of the breastfeeding advocacy efforts.
Head of Pediatric Department at AKHS, Tanzania, Dr Mariam Noorani said the matter of breastfeeding requires concerted effort between communities, health workers and policy makers.
“To successfully breastfeed, mothers and babies need support from families, communities, health workers and policy makers. Together, we can close the gap and improve breastfeeding rates in Tanzania,” she said.
Expounding the status of breastfeeding in the country, Dr Noorani, who is also a Lactation Consultant, said statistics show only 64 per cent of children from zero to five months are exclusively breastfed.
From five- to six-month-old babies only 48 per cent are exclusively breastfed while from zero to two- months infants ,80 per cent is exclusively breastfed.
However, Dr Noorani advised the policy makers to ensure both public and private offices in the country to have the conducive space for the breast mother.
Loisa Tumain, Dietician at AKHS, Tanzania encouraged mothers who want to lose weight immediately after giving birth to continue eating a balanced diet to increase milk production.
“Many women try to lose weight after giving birth and some rely on unhealthy habits, this is not right,” she emphasised.
