Karonga health and social services director Phenius Mfune has urged women in the country to sufficiently breastfeed their children, saying breast milk improves growth and development while reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
He made the appeal on Saturday during the commemoration of World Breastfeeding Day at Mwenitete Primary School ground in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kilupula in the district.
Mfune said the introduction of complementary foods when children are six months old should go together with continued breastfeeding up to two years and beyond.
He said many women rush to give their children food and stop breastfeeding due to myths which negatively affect children’s growth and development.
“Breast milk is complete food for the child since it contains all the nutrients and water in the right amounts and proportions for proper growth and development of the child during the first six months,” said Mfune.
Karonga district commissioner Richard Hara asked Karonga District Hospital officials to continue sensitising the masses on the importance of breastfeeding to reduce morbidity and mortality among under-five children.
He also urged men to take an active role in encouraging their wives to breastfeed their children up to two years.
The event was commemorated under the theme Breast Feeding, A Foundation For Life. n
