Saving lives requires that we hold ourselves and social institutions responsible. Government, healthcare, education, and religion are composed of people. Therefore is it not vital to ask what are we doing? What has been done in the past ten years in our collective memory to support mothers, fathers and babies for optimal breastfeeding practices in hospital, workplaces and national policy?
The theme for this year's World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7), set by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, is Celebrating 10 years of WHO/UNICEF's Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding. Many programmes and initiatives have taken place in the past ten years to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding but the journey requires that we not grow weary but remain steadfast as we advance, recognising that the first step on the journey to optimal health is breastfeeding.
We know that the lifetime eating habits of an adult has made it necessary to know your numbers (blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index) and receive the necessary guidance and education to achieve the recommended target value for these health indicators.
However, we think health funds are better utilised on preventative measures which be-gin with breastfeeding and require polices, programmes and services to support a health revolution-not a day.
We urge you to know your numbers:
First hour: breastfeed.
Six months: exclusive breastfeeding gold standard.
Twelve months: family table and breastfeeding.
Two to five years: breastfeeding is a valuable source of nutrition and disease protection for both mother and child.
Knowing your breastfeeding numbers requires that we assess policies, programmes and action to reduce malnutrition, poverty and NCDS-heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke-in T&T.
Adepeju Oyesanya
Founder OMO and Best Start