World Breastfeeding Week 2022: Step up for breastfeeding; Educate and support

By Sheila Murithi

First celebrated in 1992, World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is a global celebration that occurs every year from the 1st to the 7th of August in more than 120 countries.

In Kenya, the WBW activities were rolled out a little different this year; with the upcoming national elections in August, the fete took place a month earlier, from 1st to 7th July 2022.

World Breastfeeding Week is jointly organized and promoted worldwide by World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). It aims to highlight the huge benefits that breastfeeding can bring to the health and welfare of babies and benefits to maternal health, focusing on good nutrition, poverty reduction, and food security. The week has the dual goal of improving the health of babies and promoting, protecting, and supporting the rights of women to breastfeed anywhere and at any time.

The theme for WBW 2022, “Step up for Breastfeeding; Educate and Support” is focused on promoting breastfeeding for survival, health and well-being of children, mothers, and communities at large for both the short and long-term. The focus of this year’s theme also reflects on the need for strengthening efforts that were in place pre-COVID to recover and sustain the gains achieved, towards building resilient communities and economies. Further, it emphasizes the need for continuous capacity development of actors to transform existing systems through education and awareness creation on the need to promote, protect and support breastfeeding. (Source: https://bit.ly/2LfVmgI)

“Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. It is key to sustainable development for babies, as it improves nutrition, ensures food security and reduces inequalities between society cadres and within countries,” stated Mr. Alphonce Muema, Assistant Chief Nutrition Officer and Chairperson of the KNH WBW2022 committee. He added: “The Committee had an activitypacked week with health talks in obstetrics and pediatrics wards and clinics, an exhibition outside the KNH Information Centre, National launch of WBW2022 held at Mbagathi hospital and Continuing Medical Education (CMEs) at the lactation center situated in ward 1A and Kenyatta Prime Care Centre (KPCC) conference room.”

“The #WBW2022 Launch, graced by CAS Dr. Mercy Mwangangi (Guest of Honor) and an avid supporter of breastfeeding, was one of the highlights of the week for our team. This is because we had a chance to demonstrate kangaroo mother care which is practiced and taught to mothers who have preemies in KNH NICU and did a presentation about the role of KNH in capacity building of health care providers on maternalinfant and young child nutrition (MYCN),” Assistant Chief Nutrition Officer, Ms. Grace Echoka told the Newsline.

Newsline was keen to note the zeal and commitment shown by the team as they mobilized mothers with young children and families coming to seek other services in KNH to pass by the exhibition tent and learn about breastfeeding and how to offer the much-needed support to sustain it up to at least 2 years of age for their young ones. “Support for mothers is a community responsibility,” said Ms. Rosebella Keino, Assistant Chief Nutrition Officer who was often stationed at the exhibition tent. The WBW Committee members also went round the Obstetrics and Pediatric wards endowing staff in these areas with badges showing that they support the cause; Step up for Breastfeeding; Educate and Support.

The week culminated with a CME on Friday, July 8th, 2022 where one of the WBW 2022 KNH sponsors, Krishna Chemist Ltd.; a supplier of Mamalait – a product that improves breast milk supply by increasing the level of prolactin hormone in lactating mothers, offered training on the product. In attendance were nurses, nutritionists and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission Counselors (PMCT). The training mainly focused on how to promote and improve exclusive breastfeeding.

Ms. Mercy Barwecho, Deputy Chief Nutrition Officer, brought the week to a close by thanking the team for the well-organized activities and emphasized the importance of upholding initiatives that promote

MAIN PHOTO | GAD OMONDI

Mr. Laurence Mumo, representative from Krishna Chemist Ltd. conducting a presentation during the #WBW2022 CME at the Lactation Centre

and sustain exclusive breastfeeding such as:

1. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative was created to provide hospitals with a framework to support moms and babies form positive breastfeeding habits right from birth, to set them up for a longterm breastfeeding relationship. Hospitals that implement the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding are awarded the Baby-Friendly Certification. Among the 10 steps include training staff in breastfeeding implementation, giving infants no food or drink other than breastmilk unless medically indicated, giving no pacifiers or artificial nipples, and providing community support for breastfeeding mothers.

2. The First Hour

The first hour after birth is critical in initiating breastfeeding and it is a vital step for reducing infant and under-five mortality.

3. Exclusive Breastfeeding: The Gold Standard

Exclusive Breastfeeding: The Gold Standard focuses on the widely-known health benefits of exclusively breastfeeding over mixed or full supplemental feeding. Health benefits that breastfed infants enjoy are decreased infections, lower incidence of allergies, and greater cognitive function.

The mothers’ love promotes World Breastfeeding Week and supports breastfeeding moms, but more importantly, we support all moms. Whether you choose to breastfeed or not, we believe that every mother deserves a village and that we can be a part of it.

Ms. Rosebella Keino, Assistant Chief Nutrition Officer, KNH talking and offering support to members of the public who visited the exhibition tent outside the KNH Information Centre during the World Breastfeeding Week

PHOTO |SHEILA MURITHI

2022 WBW Committee members visiting the Obstetrics and Pediatric wards endowing staff with badges promoting the cause; Step up for Breastfeeding; Educate and Support

PHOTO | SHEILA MURITHI

Mr. Alphonce Muema, Assistant Chief Nutrition Officer, KNH presenting the role of KNH in capacity building of health care providers on maternal infant and young child nutrition (MYCN) to CAS Dr. Mercy Mwangangi and other guests during the #WBW2022 Launch held at Mbagathi Hospital on 5th July 2022

PHOTO | SHEILA MURITHI

Ms Grace Echoka, Assistant Chief Nutrition Officer, KNH demonstrating Kangaroo Mother Care during the World Breastfeeding Week Launch held at Mbagathi Hospital on 5th July 2022

PHOTO | SHEILA MURITHI