Friday, July 30, 2010
lives, UNICEF Representative to Somalia, Rozanne Chorlton said at the
commencement of World Breastfeeding Week. The Week this year emphasizes the advantages of breastfeeding as well as the role the community and health
sector can play to promote it.
In a country where one in five children dies before the age of five,
breastfeeding has the potential to reduce mortality by as much as 20%, as
well as decrease the likelihood of disease. Delays in the initiation of
breastfeeding and the use of unhygienically-prepared formula, powdered milk
and animal milk are contributing factors towards Somalia’s global acute
malnutrition levels of 19 per cent.
In Somalia, most infants are exclusively breastfed for no more than two to
three days after delivery. Only 5.3% of infants are exclusively breastfed
in Somalia for the first six months of life. If this number was increased,
Somali infants would receive tremendous health benefits, critical nutrients
and protection from deadly diseases such as pneumonia. The strong
protective effect of breastfeeding is most significant when a child is
below six months, but it extends until they are at least two years old. The
Koran also recommends breastfeeding for 24 months.
UNICEF is supporting health workers and communities to acquire the
knowledge, skills and resources to help new mothers and promote
breastfeeding in Somalia. “Much can be achieved by spreading the word in
communities that mothers should initiate breastfeeding within an hour of
birth and give their newborns no other food or drink for the first six
months of their lives apart from breast milk, unless medically indicated,”
said Ms Chorlton. “UNICEF is the largest provider of water, education,
health and nutrition services in Somalia and our staff and partners are
helping to ensure that health facilities continue to play a major role in
raising this awareness and providing the skills to achieve it.”
Newborn infants in Somalia start their lives in some of the most
disadvantaged conditions in the world. The country’s humanitarian situation
is compounded by a lack of sustainable and safe water sources, repeated
illness (especially diarrhoea), limited access to food and poor child-care
practices, which have contributed to an increase in chronic malnutrition.
“UNICEF is promoting the concept of a baby-friendly community by
sensitizing media, students of midwifery and nursing schools, community
health workers, youth, teachers, religious leaders, women and traditional
birth attendants so that they know and share the knowledge that a breastfed
baby can become a strong and intelligent member of the community,” said
Erin McCloskey a Nutrition Specialist with UNICEF Somalia.
For more information contact:
· Iman Morooka, Communication Officer, UNICEF Somalia. Mobile: +254 714
606 733. Email: [email protected].
· Robert Kihara, Communication Officer, UNICEF Somalia. Mobile: +254 722
206 883 Email: [email protected].