NURSING mothers and pregnant women should acquire more knowledge on breastfeeding to ensure newborn babies would receive the best benefits and nutrients from the mother’s milk.
Penang Social Development and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Chong Eng said this is important even before the baby is born, in order to give them the best head start in their life.
“As we know and proven by science, breastfeeding can help save lives and improve the health, social and economic development of children.
“Thus, breastfeeding is the natural way and best source of nutrition for children.
“As stated by World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (Waba), breast milk is the most nutritious source of food for newborns on top of supplying the much-needed growth hormones, while breastfeeding mothers are proven to have a much lower chance of developing breast cancer.
“So, it can be said here that breastfeeding ensures the health, development, wellbeing and survival of children and women,” Chong Eng said in her speech during the World Breastfeeding Week (WBW 2021) that was organised virtually by JCI Pearl via its Facebook page today.
Also present were JCI Pearl president Anicial Teh Kooi Luan and JCI Pearl organising chairperson Khor Kar Tien.
World Breastfeeding Week is an annual celebration and awareness campaign highlighting and recognising the benefits of breastfeeding in communities across the globe.
It is officially celebrated from Aug 1 to 7 every year.
Chong Eng also stressed on the importance of collaborative actions between the government, voluntary organisations and corporations to improve and sustain breastfeeding rates in the country.
“Everyone’s breastfeeding journey is different. To some it may come naturally, to some it may seem harder; some breastfeed for six months and some beyond infancy.
“Armed with the right knowledge and support from husbands, other family members and the community, success in breastfeeding is achievable and enjoyable.
“Thus, I would like to urge everyone to keep promoting breastfeeding as a norm and the most natural choice for all parents,” she added.
According to Teh, World Breastfeeding Week aimed to spread the awareness and to educate the public about breastfeeding as well as to support the soon-to-be and new moms to embark on their adventure of parenthood.
“We also offer childcare tips to both fathers and mothers on how to bathe, carry and feed their baby through the programme.
“We also have virtual simultaneous breastfeeding, online quiz and lucky draws session with prizes worth RM1,000 for those who participate in the programme today,” she said.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis