Government releases national guidelines for child feeding

GOVERNMENT has released a new policy that protects children whose mothers are HIV-positive or cannot breastfeed for other reasons.

The National Policy on Infant and Young Child Feeding was developed to create an environment that promotes, protects and supports sound infant and young child feeding practices in the country. It was officially launched by Health Minister Dr Libertina Amathila on Friday.In the foreword to the booklet, Amathila states that the policy places particular emphasis on the need to promote, protect and support breastfeeding for the majority of infants whose mothers were HIV-negative and for whom it was a lifesaver.”The policy ensures that those whose mothers are HIV-positive, or who are unable to breastfeed for whatever reason, are cared for and nourished to the best possible standards and are protected from the disadvantages that arise from the inability to breastfeed,” Amathila said.Dr Kalumbi Shangula, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, said the prevalence of HIV demanded a policy to clarify the Government position on breastfeeding.In 1992, President Sam Nujoma launched the Baby and Mother-Friendly Initiative to promote breastfeeding in hospitals, workplaces and in the community.A target was also set to achieve 75 per cent exclusive breastfeeding rates for the first four to six months and to make at least 80 per cent of Namibian hospitals baby-friendly.Although the success of the policy implementation has not been evaluated, Government said 100 per cent of Namibia’s State and State-subsidised missionary hospitals have achieved baby and mother-friendly status.”This means the majority of mothers are being reached with support for breastfeeding,” the policy states.The policy, however, notes that exclusive breastfeeding remained low in Namibia at only 25 per cent up to three months and only three per cent between four to six months.”The rise of HIV has made the picture even more complex,” according to the policy.Although breastfeeding remained low over the long term, some 94 per cent of mothers initiate it at birth.The goal of the policy is to improve exclusive breastfeeding from three per cent between four to six months to 15 per cent by 2008 and to increase those still breastfeeding at 18 months from 44 per cent to 54 per cent over the same time.Breastfeeding reduces deaths from acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea.”If breastfeeding is allowed to decline further, infant and child mortality will increase and there would be an extra burden on the healthcare system that is already being overloaded with AIDS patients,” warns the policy.It was officially launched by Health Minister Dr Libertina Amathila on Friday.In the foreword to the booklet, Amathila states that the policy places particular emphasis on the need to promote, protect and support breastfeeding for the majority of infants whose mothers were HIV-negative and for whom it was a lifesaver.”The policy ensures that those whose mothers are HIV-positive, or who are unable to breastfeed for whatever reason, are cared for and nourished to the best possible standards and are protected from the disadvantages that arise from the inability to breastfeed,” Amathila said.Dr Kalumbi Shangula, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, said the prevalence of HIV demanded a policy to clarify the Government position on breastfeeding.In 1992, President Sam Nujoma launched the Baby and Mother-Friendly Initiative to promote breastfeeding in hospitals, workplaces and in the community.A target was also set to achieve 75 per cent exclusive breastfeeding rates for the first four to six months and to make at least 80 per cent of Namibian hospitals baby-friendly.Although the success of the policy implementation has not been evaluated, Government said 100 per cent of Namibia’s State and State-subsidised missionary hospitals have achieved baby and mother-friendly status.”This means the majority of mothers are being reached with support for breastfeeding,” the policy states.The policy, however, notes that exclusive breastfeeding remained low in Namibia at only 25 per cent up to three months and only three per cent between four to six months.”The rise of HIV has made the picture even more complex,” according to the policy.Although breastfeeding remained low over the long term, some 94 per cent of mothers initiate it at birth.The goal of the policy is to improve exclusive breastfeeding from three per cent between four to six months to 15 per cent by 2008 and to increase those still breastfeeding at 18 months from 44 per cent to 54 per cent over the same time.Breastfeeding reduces deaths from acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea.”If breastfeeding is allowed to decline further, infant and child mortality will increase and there would be an extra burden on the healthcare system that is already being overloaded with AIDS patients,” warns the policy.