Nairobi: Health experts have called for greater involvement of families and communities in supporting breastfeeding mothers, asserting that collective responsibility is essential for improving child nutrition and maternal health in Tharaka Nithi County and across the nation.
According to Kenya News Agency, the appeal was made during celebrations for this year’s World Breastfeeding Week at Kirumi Health Centre in Maara Sub-county. Healthcare workers, community health promoters, mothers, and development partners gathered to promote exclusive breastfeeding and proper infant nutrition. Dr. Mutuma Njagi, Head of the Public Health Department at Village Hopecore International, highlighted Kenya’s progress in promoting exclusive breastfeeding, yet emphasized the need for increased efforts to ensure optimal child nutrition during the first six months.
Dr. Njagi noted that about six out of every ten children in Kenya are exclusively breastfed. Village Hopecore International is collaborating with government and development partners to increase this rate through public education, community outreach, and practical support for mothers. He pointed out the common misconception that breastfeeding is natural for all mothers, emphasizing the necessity for guidance on breastfeeding techniques and transitioning to complementary feeding.
The event, organized by Village Hopecore International in partnership with the Tharaka Nithi County Government, IDE Vitamin Angels, and Helen Keller International, underscored the theme ‘Strengthening What Works.’ It aimed to protect and expand interventions promoting breastfeeding, attracting hundreds of participants including mothers, fathers, and community health promoters.
Dr. Njagi identified misinformation, cultural misconceptions, and inadequate practical knowledge as significant obstacles to successful breastfeeding. He addressed challenges such as mothers losing confidence in milk production and introducing formula or other foods prematurely due to familial pressure or misinformation. To combat these issues, the organization has intensified training for healthcare workers and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to provide education, counseling, and support.
Dr. Njagi emphasized the crucial role of fathers and family members in providing emotional support, assisting with household duties, and encouraging exclusive breastfeeding. He described breast milk as nature’s ‘superfood,’ vital for a baby’s nutrition, immunity, brain development, and growth.
As part of World Breastfeeding Week outreach, the program reached 410 lactating mothers and 82 pregnant women with health education, nutrition counseling, growth monitoring, and breastfeeding support. Community Health Promoter Purity Kageni from Muthande highlighted persistent misconceptions, such as concerns about breast appearance and premature introduction of powdered milk.
Kageni emphasized educational efforts on exclusive breastfeeding for six months, followed by complementary feeding while continuing breastfeeding until two years or beyond. She credited Village Hopecore International’s training for equipping health workers with necessary knowledge and skills.
Beneficiaries of the program shared transformative experiences, like Ellyjoy Kawira from Ganga Ward, who successfully breastfed her twins despite initial challenges. Hellen Gatwiri shared how the program dispelled traditional beliefs about breastfeeding, encouraging young mothers to prioritize infant feeding over body image concerns. Similarly, Maureen Makena committed to spreading acquired knowledge within her village to promote recommended infant feeding practices.
