The Greater Accra Regional Hospital has launched this year’s World Breastfeeding Week, urging families, employers and the public to support breastfeeding mothers.
The event, held under the theme “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life,” brought together health professionals, nursing mothers and other stakeholders to promote the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding.
An Ambassador for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, Janeth Awuni, acknowledged that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months can be challenging but said mothers are more likely to succeed when they receive emotional and psychological support.
She encouraged families and communities to stand by breastfeeding mothers throughout the process.
A Principal Nutrition Nurse at the hospital, Madam Dorcas Asante, said although awareness about breastfeeding has improved, many families still rely on myths and misinformation instead of medical advice.
She noted that stress, poor breastfeeding techniques, breast pain and lack of family support remain some of the major challenges facing nursing mothers. She urged husbands, relatives and caregivers to encourage and assist mothers rather than confuse them with conflicting advice.
The hospital’s Deputy Director of Nursing Services, Mrs. Doris Agyei, educated mothers on proper breastfeeding techniques, expressing and storing breast milk, and managing common challenges such as sore nipples, breast engorgement and blocked milk ducts.
She described breastfeeding as an investment in the health and future of children and communities.
Medical Director of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Dr. Leslie Issa-Adams, called on employers to establish breastfeeding-friendly spaces at workplaces to enable working mothers to continue exclusive breastfeeding after returning to work.
He added that breastfeeding not only improves the health of babies but also reduces the financial burden on families by cutting the cost of infant formula.
Health professionals at the event encouraged mothers to seek help from qualified health workers whenever they encounter breastfeeding difficulties and appealed to the public to support breastfeeding mothers both at home and at work.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Dorothy Amobea