STATE executive councillor for Women & Family Development, Gender Inclusiveness & Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Chong Eng has urged everyone to play their role in enabling mothers to breastfeed as breastfeeding is essential for babies.
“I truly support the theme this year which is “empower parents, enable breastfeeding”. We should find out ways to build an ‘enabling’ ecosystem for mothers to breastfeed.
“The mothers would definitely want to breastfeed their babies but if the environment around them is not so ‘friendly’, how are they going to do so?
“World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) had mentioned that globally, a mother’s returning to their job after childbirth is one of the leading reasons for early supplementation with artificial formula and early cessation of breastfeeding,” said Chong Eng during a press conference held on July 22.
According to World Health Organisation, the optimal breastfeeding period for infants is six months and the infant should continue to breastfeed up to at least to two years old and above together with complimentary food.
“Many companies are only offering a three-month paid maternity leave before the employees return to work after childbirth.
“But with poor facilities in the workplace such as the lack of breastfeeding room, many mothers are unable to find the private space and time to continue breastfeeding their newborns.
“More women are becoming part of the workforce, thus apart from campaigning on the benefits of breastfeeding we must also campaign on the need of a support system for mothers to do so,” added Chong Eng.
She also called upon companies to introduce ‘family-friendly’ policies, create a private nursing room, have a childcare centre, flexible working hours, generous parental leave especially parents of newborns and toddlers.
“When we have an eco-system in place to help parents address the natural and basic care needs for their child only then we will be able to empower them,” she said.
WABA’s secretariat for director, administration and governance services Sita Letchmi, who was also present, said family members should also be supportive to the mothers.
“Mothers need to breastfeed their babies without stress as stress would reduce breast milk. Breastfeeding is a family affair where the fathers, parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters and other family members should help in the move for the mothers to breastfeed.
“I would like to stress here that breastfeeding is not only a matter that concerns the mother and the baby but the whole family as well. Breastfeeding is the best investment as it will contribute to the babies’ good health” Sita Letchmi added.
“In Malaysia, we have 60 days (eight weeks) of maternity leave for private organisation and 90 days (12 weeks) for government which is less than the minimum recommendation by the International Labour Organisation.
“Under the 183 convention (C183) it says 14 weeks and the 191 recommendation (R191) says 18 weeks.
“We (Malaysia) are far below and we have not rectified it. If all of us get together and demand, it can happen and we can increase the maternity leave as well as paternity leave.
“Paternity leave is also important, as the fathers will be around to help other family members and this will make the mothers stress free
“Our theme this year is to create a warm chain of breastfeeding, starting from the maternity ward, the support groups and the relevant policies such as with regard to the maternity leaves,” she added.
In conjunction with the World Breastfeeding Week, the Penang Adventist Hospital (PAH), under its Kangaroo Club Breastfeeding Support Group, will celebrate the World Breastfeeding Week 2019 at Straits Quay on July 28 from 2pm to 5.30 pm.
There will be a series of activities such as photo contest, 95 seconds of simultaneous breastfeeding contest, wearing traditional baby sling competition, educational booths as well as health talks.
For further information on the event, follow ‘Kangaroo Club Breastfeeding Support Group’ on facebook.
Story & pix by Tanushalini Moroter