Joe Dinga Pefok
20 June 2008
The Coordinator of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, WABA, Men's Working Group, James Achanyi-Fontem, has urged men to encourage breastfeeding.
In a press conference in Douala recently, Achanyi-Fontem threw light on the activities of WABA and IBFAN Africa in the promotion of breastfeeding, as well as the relationship between the 2008 World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7), and the 2008 Olympic Games (August 8-24).
While highlighting men's role in encouraging their wives to breast feed their babies, he said breast milk has a rich natural nutritional value, which is essential for the healthy upbringing of a child". Achanyi-Fontem quoted a study which shows that breast feeding in the 1st hour, saves one million lives a year. He asserted that breast milk enables children to grow up strong and intelligent.
The WABA official noted that the World Health Organisation, WHO, recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months, which could be complemented later with nutritious food. He stated that Decree No. 2005 / 5168 / PM of December 1, 2005 recommends that a child should be breastfed for 30 months, while artificial milk can only be given to a baby as supplement to breast milk, from the age of six months.
Achanyi-Fontem stressed on the need to sensitise parents on the importance of breast milk.
He claimed that children fed with artificial milk are generally dull and weak. Achanyi-Fontem regretted that there are women who refuse to breastfeed their babies for fear that their breasts will "fall". Going by him, women's breast fall naturally even they do not breast feed children.
Risk From Artificial Milk
Meanwhile, Achanyi-Fontem noted that companies that make artificial milk lull parents with exaggerated claims about the effectiveness of their product to babies.According to him, children not fed with breast milk face such health risks as asthma, reduced cognitive development, respiratory diseases, nutrient deficiencies, childhood cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases etc.
Also, mothers who do not breast feed their children, run the risk of contracting breast cancer, overweight, ovarian and endometrial cancer among others.
Olympic Games
As for the relationship between the 2008 World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7) and the 2008 Olympic Games (August 8-24), Achanyi-Fontem presented a handout published by WABA titled, 'Mother Support: Going For The Gold'. The publication reveals that as both events are taking place close to each other, WABA is calling for "increased support for mothers striving to achieve the gold standard of infant feeding to breastfeed their babies exclusively for the first six months.
"Support a mother to provide a golden start for her child. With breastfeeding everyone wins," the WABA publication states further.Achanyi-Fontem explained that WABA will, during the World Breastfeeding Week, strive to expand awareness and provide support to a breastfeeding mother.
WABA is a global network of organisations and individuals who believe breastfeeding is the right of all children and mothers, and who dedicate themselves to protect, promote and support this right.
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