Encourage mothers to breastfeed infants – Fatimah

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Fatimah handing over souvenir to the event main sponsor, Datin Wong Pik Hung and husband, Dato Lau Ngie Hua (second right) while Normaliza (left), Dr Ngian (second left) and Jefri (partly hidden) look on.

Fatimah handing over souvenir to the event main sponsor, Datin Wong Pik Hung and husband, Dato Lau Ngie Hua (second right) while Normaliza (left), Dr Ngian (second left) and Jefri (partly hidden) look on.

SIBU: Mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed their babies in public without feeling self-conscious or embarrassed.

Minister for Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said it was a natural and sacred thing to do, and it should be normal for all mothers.

She also stressed that breastfeeding was fundamental to the health of the children and mothers as well.

“However, the practice of breastfeeding has flattened since the last two decades worldwide, including in Sarawak.

“The global data shows that only 40 per cent of infants under six months old are exclusively breastfed,” she said at the launching of Sibu World Breastfeeding Week at Star Mega Mall yesterday.

Fatimah noted that the Ministry of Health had set a target of breastfeeding full time at 50 per cent, meaning 50 per cent of mothers to breastfeed exclusively.

“Looking at the data collected by the Sarawak State Health Department, our breastfeeding rate is still low at 33 per cent for the months of January to June this year.

“However, there are some promising increases, starting from the year 2014, which was at a mere 14 per cent.

Samarahan, Mukah and Kuching have higher per centage rate of breastfeeding compared to other divisions,” she added.

As for Sibu Division, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding was 23 per cent in 2015.

“Thus, Sibu still has a lot to catch up, but I believe the rate will increase as Sibu also showed a promising trend in breastfeeding rates from year to year through the promotion and efforts by the Health Department in Sibu,” she added.

Fatimah noted that mothers faced many obstacles to breastfeeding their babies, ranging from a lack of support from the people around them to not have access and guidance about effective breastfeeding.

“The aggressive marketing of infant formula and forced to return to work soon after giving birth are also major contributory factors.”.

These obstacles made it difficult for mothers to breastfeed exclusively for six months and much more difficult to continue breastfeeding for two years as recommended by the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health Malaysia, she added.

“Therefore, the theme of this year’s Breastfeeding Week will not only look at the practice of breastfeeding in the context of maternal, child and surrounding factors but breastfeeding as a strategy towards sustainable development.

“A step that brings the context of breastfeeding as a medium to eradicate poverty, combat inequality and tackle environmental problems by 2030.”.

Meanwhile, Fatimah said she was very happy to see that in Sibu, the women support group has been very active under the leadership of Dayang Normaliza Awang Tambi, who is the Chairperson for Sibu Women Breastfeeding Support Group.

“I understand that today’s event will not be as successful as we can see without the support and hard works of the Sibu Women Breastfeeding Support Group,” she pointed out.

State Health deputy director (Foods Safety and Quality), Mohamad Jefri Consley, who represented State Health director Dr Jamilah Hashim, Daesim Management Sdn Bhd managing director Dato Lau

Ngie Hua, Dayang Normaliza, director of Sibu Hospital, who is also Chairperson of Sibu Breastfeeding Committee, Dr Ngian Hie Ung, were among those present.