Breastfeeding critical for child development and long-term health

Breast milk has always played a pivotal role in nurturing newborn babies, building natural immunity, and providing a unique blend of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Speaking at the 7th Annual General Meeting of the Breastfeeding & Child Nutrition Foundation at the Sandy Lane Hotel on Saturday, July 15, Dr Sonia Browne, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health & Wellness, emphasised the potential of breastfeeding in mitigating the risk of chronic noncommunicable diseases in children throughout their lives.

Dr Browne highlighted that breastfed children experience a reduced risk of developing various conditions including but not limited to, asthma, severe respiratory diseases, obesity, ear infections, and gastrointestinal infections. She explained that breastfeeding also fosters a profound bond between mother and child while offering numerous benefits to the mother such as a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, breast and ovarian cancer, and postpartum weight loss. 

Expressing her admiration for the Breastfeeding & Child Nutrition Foundation’s initiatives, Dr Browne acknowledged their efforts in empowering women and promoting effective breastfeeding practices. 

“I am particularly impressed by the many initiatives of the Foundation…including programmes such as the Baby and Me Breastfeeding Support Group, the Baby and Me WhatsApp Group, breastfeeding classes and consultations, advocacy for breastfeeding-friendly workshop policies, and community outreach.”

Echoing her sentiments, Dr Alison Bernard, the Executive Director of the Breastfeeding & Child Nutrition Foundation, commented, “We came up with this year’s theme, Achieving our Vision: Building Community Capacity for the Future, very quickly, because empowering our beneficiaries to optimise their children’s nutrition is a high-priority objective for the BCNF.”

Providing families with the necessary tools, education, and skills to improve their children’s nutrition lies at the core of the organisation’s mission.

 Dr. Bernard further stressed the need for employers to implement supportive measures for new mothers in the workplace, including the provision of clean and private spaces for pumping and storing breast milk. She advocated for flexible work hours and remote work options, which can lead to benefits for employers such as decreased absenteeism, improved productivity, employee satisfaction, retention, and reduced medical insurance claims.

Recognising the significance of breastfeeding on public health and well-being, the World Health Assembly has set a target of achieving a breastfeeding rate of at least 50 per cent by 2025. However, a critical aspect lacking in Barbados’ breastfeeding efforts is up-to-date breastfeeding data. The last available data is from 2012, which hinders accurate assessment and progress tracking on a national level. The Breastfeeding & Child Nutrition Foundation urges the ministry to prioritise the collection of current and comprehensive breastfeeding data, stressing the need for understanding breastfeeding practices, duration, and the transition to solid foods.

Breastfeeding plays a vital role in the development and long-term health of children, and it is essential to support and encourage breastfeeding practices at all levels. By championing breastfeeding and empowering mothers, Barbados can enhance the well-being of its population and achieve lasting positive impacts. It is estimated that for every $1 spent on breastfeeding, there is a return on investment of $35, and upscaling breastfeeding globally could potentially save $300 billion annually. Implementing a range of policies and actions will allow Barbados to reach national and international health goals for the population. ]]>