Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, has encouraged mothers to breastfeed their infants incessant for six months to boost the immune system of their young ones.
Speaking during the World Breastfeeding Week at Rongo University-Migori County, Muthoni said that the number of mother exclusively breastfeeding their young ones for the first six months had dropped from 62 percent in 2014 to 60 percent in 2022.
She also disclosed that the early initiation of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months has reduced from 63 percent in 2014 to 61 percent in 2022.
The PS said that the country’s exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months was below the globally set target of 70 percent while the usage of bottle breastfeeding increased from 22 percent to 34 percent in the last ten years, showing a worrying trend that mothers have embraced more bottle feeding than breastfeeding.
She expounded that breastfeeding not only gives the infant a better immune system but also increases the bond between the mother and the child.
Muthoni noted that World Breastfeeding Week, which started on August 1 will provide a critical platform to raise awareness, to mobilise the community, and to reaffirm the government’s commitment to protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding mothers.
She explained that this year’s theme of prioritising breastfeeding and creating sustainable support systems aligns with Kenya’s broader agenda of reducing the mortality rate by 13 percent among infants, making breastfeeding a human right schema.
The Health Act of 2017 requires every employee will set up a crush house to offer a decent place for breastfeeding mothers and daycare services for mothers to bond with their children.
The PS explained that the government has set up policies like the mandatory 90 days maternity leave and the 14 days paternity leave to ensure mothers’ breastfeed their infants as well as fathers to bond with their young families.
Muthoni also noted that the community health promoters have been moving door to door to provide the necessary hygienic skills required during breastfeeding to avoid malnutrition in the infant stage.
The government has been scaling up the baby-friendly hospital initiatives and the baby-friendly community initiatives, and according to Muthoni, more than 1,500 community health units have already been implemented countrywide for the baby-friendly community initiatives.
The official also disclosed that the government was also building capacity at the county level to deliver breastfeeding support to increase statistics through trained community health promoters (CHPs).
According to Migori County health statistics, 15 percent of girls below the age of 18 give birth, a worrying trend that Muthoni said may reduce the exclusive six-month breastfeeding statistics because primary and secondary schools do not have crushes to provide decent breastfeeding places.
She applauded the efforts of Rongo University in putting up the day care facility to serve its staff as well as students, adding that such initiatives will boost the percentage of breastfeeding in the county.
On the issue of the Linda Mama programme, the PS disclosed that the Social Health Authority (SHA) provides for up to Sh10,000 for mothers who give birth normally, with those undergoing a caesarian section receiving Sh30,000. She encouraged Kenyans to register in the programme to reduce the burden of health care.
Migori Governor Dr Ochilo Ayacko said that breastfeeding was the right thing to do to promote a healthier new generation.
He said that focusing on infant immunity, a starting point of human life, will be key to addressing the health of the next generation.
Ochilo said that the county, in conjunction with the national government, will continue to champion and advocate for the bread feeding through the support of community health workers at the grassroots levels.
He also added that his administration will provide day care sections in markets to ensure business women continue doing their chores while taking care of their young ones.
“My administration has shown a commitment to advancing public health and supporting national health initiatives. We as a county have invested consistently in strengthening the health systems to ensure a healthy and thriving population,” said Ochilo.
Rongo University Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Samuel Gudu said the university, through its council, decided to build a day care facility within the institution to cater for university staff and students.
Gudu said that the centre has helped student mothers at the institution humble time to breastfeed and bond with their infants without missing class and other extracurricular activities.
The facility has also helped staff to report to their duty stations without worrying about their young ones, giving them an extra motivation to perform their tasks.
By Makokha Khaoya
