Ministry of Health chief dietician and nutritionist Ateca Kama says the moment a mother gives any other liquid apart from breastmilk, the child’s immune system is compromised.
“It’s not good but that’s how it is the moment a mother does that,” she said.
“After a mother does that it doesn’t matter what she gives after, whether it’s water, bu or any other milk because from that time onward the baby’s system is already compromised.
“It’s sad but it is happening.”
Ms Kama said the ministry does not encourage or promote any other forms of animal milk except for breastmilk. “We receive concerns and complaints even from mothers who find it difficult to breastfeed after giving birth.
“We advocate for breastmilk but in cases where the mother can’t breastfeed then counselling happens with the mother on an individual basis before, she makes an informed decision of what milk she would give to her child.”
She encouraged workplaces to reestablish baby creches at the workplace to support working mothers who continue to breastfeed. “You will note that our maternity leave is only 90 days.
“The recommendation that the Ministry of Health makes with the guidance of UNICEF and World Health Organisation is to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months and 90 days does not allow women to do that.
“Which is why there’s a call to support women to continue breastfeeding at the workplace to continue to breastfeed their babies.”
She said Fiji would do well if the six months paid maternity leave for women was ratified like other countries.
