…the joys of breastfeeding

CATHERINE MUROMBEDZI
HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

Zimbabwe, led by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) joined the global village to mark World Breastfeeding Week observed from 1 August to 7.
In a joint statement, the Brestfeeding Week aims to close the gap by supporting all mothers to breastfeed.
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and optimal early childhood development. It provides babies with their first immunisation and all the nutrients required for optimal brain development and growth.
The joint statement reported that many mothers and infants lacked the necessary support to start and continue breastfeeding successfully. Globally, only 44 percent of infants are exclusively breastfed in the first six months of life. This figure is 42 percent in Zimbabwe, falling short of the Sustainable Development Goal target of at least 70 percent by 2030.

Zimbabwe has active structures and policies to promote optimal infant and young child feeding. Nevertheless, many Zimbabwean infants and young children are not breastfed.
The 2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) report indicates that only two-thirds (59 percent) of children are breastfed within the first hour after birth.
“Only 42 percent of children from 0 to 6 months of age are exclusively breastfed. Although more than 80 percent of children continue to be breastfed for one year, many children stop being breastfed before they reach the recommended 24 months.
“The proportion of children 0 to 23 months of age who are fed using bottles is increasing by 23.7 percent, a more than 10 percent increase over the past five years. This increase in the use of bottles threatens not only breastfeeding’s natural processes but also the environment,” said the report.
“Over the past years, Zimbabwe has witnessed increased aggressive promotional activities by manufacturers of breast milk substitutes through health workers and the promotion of specific products covered under the Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes, including formula milk and follow-on milk marketed as ‘supplementary’ to breastfeeding.
“Marketing influences social norms by making formula use seem extensive, modern, and comparable to or better than breast milk.
“To address this, comprehensive breastfeeding support must be available to all mothers, regardless of their circumstances. This includes paid maternity leave, access to unbiased and medically sound information on infants’ first foods, and working environments that allow mothers to breastfeed. Young, working mothers with disabilities, as well as those living in poverty, with HIV and in emergencies, all require tailored information, counseling, and practical assistance to breastfeed,” said the report.
Speaking on the joys of breastfeeding, a young mother, Anashe Vambe, said she breastfed baby girl Leal, Wadiwa-Munamato, now aged 14 months exclusively for six months. The healthy baby girl is lucky that her mum has decided to give her the clean, correct temperature feed until she turns two years.
“As a first-time mum, i had mixed feelings on breastfeeding. I was scared at first as I had heard that it was painful. I am happy to change the narrative. It is a little irritating as the milk builds up, and the baby is not able to suck much. However, the joy of breastfeeding overcomes the irritation as baby the sucks more with each feed. As I breastfeed my baby, I’m not just nourishing her, I’m nurturing her soul as we connect. Pure joy is my greatest privilege. Breast milk is liquid love, and every feed is a reminder of the incredible impact I have on my child’s life. I exclusively fed her on breast milk for six months. Wadiwa could not tolerate formula as she refused to suck. She could distinguish the difference. So it was exclusively my milk. When I went back to work after maternity leave, I expressed some milk that she could take when I was away. She was intelligent. Despite being in a dummy bottle, she could taste the difference. I urge all mothers to give their babies that gift of breast milk. It is a complete food for babies in the first six months,” said Vambe, who is a sports journalist.

The attached clip is evident of the bond that breastfeeding builds between mother and baby.
The Government of Zimbabwe, with support from UNICEF, recently reviewed the National Infant Nutrition Regulations: SI-46 of 1998 to update national guidance in line with the latest World Health Assembly principles and address the growing influence of digital media as a source of information and a platform for aggressive marketing and advertising.
There needs to be more than the health sector to yield the desired outcomes for supporting and promoting breastfeeding. Hence, the Government of Zimbabwe, UNICEF and the World Health Organization call for action for a whole-of-society multi-sectoral approach to support breastfeeding in the Country, which includes (1) legislation: ratification by Zimbabwe of the updated Statutory Instrument 46 on the Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes; (2) health systems: strengthen the protection and promotion of breastfeeding through the health delivery system with an emphasis on the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative; (3) advocacy and communication: implement a well-coordinated national social and behaviour change strategy including through breastfeeding campaigns; (4) monitoring and reporting: enforcement of regulations, monitoring of violations and marketing activities; (5) breastfeeding interventions: promotion of workplace breastfeeding spaces and family-friendly workspaces, and strengthening maternity protection regulations.
“Inaction towards protecting and promoting breastfeeding in Zimbabwe will significantly put the country off-track towards economic and developmental aspirations by undermining children’s constitutional and international rights to good nutrition as outlined in the Zimbabwe Constitution and the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will undo decades of investment in policymaking and programming aimed at protecting women’s right to breastfeeding. The aim is to address regression on national progress on infant and young child nutrition, which has been prioritized as a key primary health care intervention immediately after independence in 1980. Zimbabwe has long been recognized globally as a leading example in stepping up efforts for the protection and promotion of breastfeeding,” said the statement.
Taking a look at options to breast milk, the conflict of interest presented by breast milk substitutes eg formula. They are profit oriented at the cost of child survival and optimal long-term development.
Through fancy advertising, they are predisposing Zimbabwean women and children to a never-ending cycle of poverty, sub-optimal early childhood development, and disease. Therefore, for World Breastfeeding Week 2024, the Government of Zimbabwe, UNICEF and the World Health Organization together with their partners aim to inform people about the benefits of breastfeeding and the inequalities that exist in breastfeeding support and prevalence across rural and urban areas, education and employment status and wealth quintities.

The policy statement anchors breastfeeding as an equaliser to close gaps in information, promotion, and support within society.
It places priority on engagement with individuals and organisations to enhance collaboration and support for breastfeeding, while galvanising action on reducing inequalities in breastfeeding support by focusing on vulnerable groups.
Breast milk provides essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals for growth and development. Skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding promote mother-infant bonding. Breast milk is easily digested, reducing the risk of constipation, diarrhoea, and other digestive issues.
A notice at Alpha clinic in Mt Hampden reads: “Breast milk production requires no packaging, transportation. It has no waste, making it an eco-friendly choice. Breast milk is free, reducing the financial burden of formula feeding. Remember, breast milk is a precious resource your baby must enjoy,” reads the note on the Patient Charter Notice Board.
In Shona we have a saying: “akayamwa mukaka akaguta” (had enough breast milk to satiate growth) used to describe a healthy and fit person.
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