In honour of World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7), the City of Cape Town’s Health Department has launched an outreach programme to emphasise the importance of breastfeeding and advocate for supportive workplace policies.
The initiative took place at In2Food in Strand, where discussions focused on the advantages of breastfeeding, workplace breastfeeding policies and the steps toward establishing breastfeeding-friendly environments.
According to News24, Councillor Patricia van der Ross, the City’s mayoral committee member for community Services and health, highlighted the significance of creating conducive spaces for working mothers.
She expressed concern over the trend of mothers transitioning to formula feeding after their maternity leave due to challenges in expressing and storing breast milk while at work. The City aims to encourage employers to evaluate their existing facilities and take necessary measures to support breastfeeding mothers.
‘By supporting women on their breastfeeding journey, we are helping to ensure a brighter and healthier future for their child, and our communities.
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She also commended the City’s efforts, such as the introduction of the first Mother’s Lounge earlier this year, to facilitate a more breastfeeding-friendly environment.
World Breastfeeding Week serves as a platform to underscore the advantages of breastfeeding and this year’s theme, ‘Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a difference for working parents,’ emphasises the significance of enabling breastfeeding in workplaces.
Data has consistently shown that breastfeeding significantly contributes to a child’s overall development. The City Health Department has been actively advocating for exclusive breastfeeding whenever feasible, aligning with the provincial breastfeeding restoration plan that targets a minimum of 50% of mothers engaging in breastfeeding.
While City clinics achieved the 50% target in the previous fiscal year, their goal is to raise the rate to 80%, aiming for a more widespread positive impact.
As part of its intensified efforts, City Health has employed a team of Infant Feeding Counsellors (IFCs) since 2021. These counsellors engage with new mothers visiting clinics, providing information on the benefits and practicalities of exclusive breastfeeding.
The approach has yielded remarkable results, as seen in the case of the Phumlani Clinic in Mitchell’s Plain. Thanks to the IFC’s efforts, the clinic’s exclusive breastfeeding rate nearly doubled from 35% to 69% between August 2022 and mid-June 2023, showcasing the potential of education and support.
Councillor Van der Ross encouraged mothers to prioritise breastfeeding as the initial option, highlighting the numerous nutritional, health and developmental benefits it offers.
She urged women to seek assistance from clinics for accurate information and guidance in making informed decisions about their health and the well-being of their infants.
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Feature image: Unsplash
Originally published on Cape {town} Etc.
