2024 World Breastfeeding Week : Breast Milk, And Breast Milk Only!

The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF on July 31, 2024 in the Cameroonian capital, Yaounde organised a media forum on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding to mark the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week which begins on August 1, 2024. Also known as Café Media, the event featured this year’s World Breastfeeding Week whose theme is, “A chain of support for breastfeeding, continuity of care during the first 1,000 days.” It was attended by 20 Cameroonian journalists.

New Child Rights Initiative 
“Café Media is a new initiative by UNICEF to discuss with the media as key members of the society who can reliably pass on information to the public – especially on children’s rights. Our plan is to organize Café Media each month on a topical issue. This time, it was on breastfeeding to mark the World Breastfeeding Week. Breastfeeding currently stands at 90 per cent in Cameroon. However, we still need to work on its quality, strengthen exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of a child and stress the need to continue to breastfeed till two years. The objective of Café Media is to raise awareness and sensitise the public on topical health issues,” explained Mrs. Nadine Perrault, UNICEF Cameroon Representative. 

For Child Growth, Development 
According to Chouahibou Nchamoun, Nutrition Officer, UNICEF Cameroon, exclusive breastfeeding contributes to the growth and development of the child. “The first six months are important for the growth and development of a child with exclusive breastfeeding. Because breast milk contains all what a baby requires – including its water needs - for their growth and development up to the age of six months.

Mother’s Diet, Child’s Diet Also
“The breastfeeding mother must be well fed in order for the baby to be also well fed. The breastfeeding mother must eat a variety of food - especially rich local food. Her diet must be balanced in the interest of her health and that of the baby. The baby does not need any other thing before the age of six - apart from breast milk. All of the baby’s food needs are found in breast milk. If you add any other thing - even fruits - they will have a negative effect on the baby’s digestion and health,” Chouahibou Nchamoun warned.     

All About Breastfeeding
The forum comprised an overview of the World Breastfeeding Week nutrition policy by Elhadji Issakha Diop, Chief Nutrition UNICEF Cameroon; a short video and testimony of Mrs. Odile Michèle Mengue, a 44-year-old mother of four children who committed to feed her daughter Andréa with breast milk until the age of two. There was also a presentation on the situation of breastfeeding in Cameroon by Chouahibou Nchamoun, Nutrition Officer, UNICEF Cameroon.

Media Forum Experts 
Participants at the media forum included Dr Vougmo Clémence, a pediatrician committed to promoting breastfeeding in Cameroon; Prof. Dongmo Nguefack Félicité of the Cameroonian Society of Pediatrics, SOCAPED; Mrs. Donne Ndema Odette of the Association of Midwives of Cameroon, ASFAC; Mrs. Mahamat Marlyse from the Association of Nutritionists/Dieticians. And Prof. Dohbit, a resource person on the promotion of breastfeeding.

Benefits Of Breastfeeding 
According to UNICEF, from birth to 6 months of age, feeding infants nothing but breastmilk guarantees them a food source that is uniquely adapted to their nutrient needs, while also being safe, clean, healthy and accessible, no matter where they live. Putting newborns to the breast within the first hour of life – known as early initiation of breastfeeding – is critical to newborn survival and to establishin...