ZANZIBAR: AS the world observes ‘Breastfeeding Week’, new statistics reveal that only 40 per cent of infants in Zanzibar are exclusively breastfed for the first six months.
This figure highlights a need for urgent action to meet the global target of 50 per cent by 2025.
The Ministry for Health convened a press conference to mark this year’s Breastfeeding Week, running from August 1 to 7, under the theme “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All.”
Both Zanzibar’s Minister for Health, Mr Nassor Ahmed Mazrui and Chief of the UNICEF Field Office in Zanzibar, Ms Laxmi Bhawani expressed concern over the low breastfeeding rates in the region.
They noted that many infants are missing their right to exclusive breastfeeding during the crucial first six months of life-something that should not be the case.
Mr Mazrui emphasised that health experts view breastfeeding as the most effective way to ensure optimal growth for infants and urged parents, particularly mothers, to take it seriously.
He stated, “To ensure the success of this initiative, the Ministry for Health, through its Maternal and Child Health Unit, has been actively promoting breastfeeding via community meetings and media programmes, including radio and television, to highlight the importance of mother’s milk during the first six months after birth.”
He called on journalists to help intensify the campaign to promote breastfeeding, noting its numerous benefits, such as protecting infants from diseases like diarrhea, malnutrition and respiratory complications.
Additionally, breastfeeding fosters a strong bond between mother and child, supports healthy physical and mental development, reduces the likelihood of pregnancy during the first six months postpartum, lowers the mother’s risk of cervical and breast cancer, and decreases child mortality.
Mr Mazrui reiterated the need for a collaborative effort involving multiple stakeholders to motivate and support breastfeeding and to uphold women’s rights to breastfeed anywhere and at any time.
Ms Laxmi praised the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar for its dedication to improving nutrition, health and overall well-being.
However, she pointed out that significant work remains to reach the global target of having at least 50 per cent of children under six months exclusively breastfed by 2025.
She highlighted that breastfeeding is not merely a personal choice but a fundamental right of every child.
UNICEF is committed to supporting the government in its efforts to promote exclusive breastfeeding for children under six months and to advocate for continued breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond.
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Ms Bhawani suggested that the Ministry for Health consider training healthcare providers to offer advice and support to mothers on breastfeeding.
She emphasised that initiating breastfeeding soon after delivery in health facilities could significantly increase the breastfeeding rate to 80 per cent.
Additionally, she recommended strengthening lactation management and counseling skills to support mothers, enhancing support services and addressing cultural norms and practices that affect breastfeeding.
She also called for promoting gender equality to encourage fathers’ involvement in parenting and child care and improving monitoring and evaluation systems to advance breastfeeding practices.
