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Group calls for more support for breastfeeding mothers
Womenâs ability to breastfeed is a national asset, and hence the state has a great responsibility to fully support the breastfeeding mothersâ movement, a breastfeeding mothersâ association says
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W
omen's ability to breastfeed is a national asset, and hence the state has a great responsibility to fully support the breastfeeding mothers' movement, a breastfeeding mothers' association says.
'It's the time for the state to fully lend a hand to ensure the success of breastfeeding initiatives in Indonesia. It is the state's responsibility to respect, protect, support and promote breastfeeding practices by offering its political will and financial support in a balanced way through empowerment programs, such as ensuring an even distribution of basic education and infrastructure and skill development,' Indonesian Breastfeeding Mothers' Association (AIMI) representative Mia Sutanto said in a release made available to The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
Therefore, she said, AIMI urged the government to pay close attention to the importance of investing in babies' futures, by supporting them in a more systematic way in order to support successful breastfeeding and to provide the right atmosphere so that every mother in Indonesia can breastfeed her baby in comfort and safety.
'One of right ways to support mothers breastfeeding their babies is by paying close attention to breastfeeding mothers' nutritional intakes, giving accurate breastfeeding-related information and imposing sanctions on medical workers who violate codes of ethics,' said Mia.
With such support, she said, the Indonesian government could save medical costs related to various illnesses that can be prevented by breastfeeding, strengthen the development of future generations and reduce the country's infant and maternal death rates, which remain high.
The World Health Organization recommends optimal breastfeeding as one of most effective ways to ensure children's health and fundamental development.
Data from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) shows that almost 83 million of the total of 135 million babies born every year across the world are not breastfed optimally.
In December last year, the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) Asia, as part of the World Breastfeeding Costing Initiative (WBCI), and the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) jointly released results of research showing that globally, an annual investment of US$17.5 billion was needed to provide intervention packages to create conducive environments for breastfeeding. (ebf)
