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The government reports that Zambia has achieved 70 percent coverage in exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and 76 percent in initiating breastfeeding within an hour of birth.
Despite this success, Minister of Health, Dr Elijah Muchima, stated that more efforts were needed to reach the desired 80 percent.
Muchima said this in a speech read on his behalf by Minister of Information and Media, Cornelius Mweetwa, who is also acting Minister of Labour and Social Security.
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This was during the launch of the World Breastfeeding Week, which was held under the theme “Closing the Gap, Breastfeeding Support for All” in Lusaka on Friday.
He added that the 80 percent target could be achieved by scaling up the Baby-Friendly Health Facility Initiative, which promoted breastfeeding within one hour of birth.
“The material, infant and young child nutrition programmes during antenatal, postnatal and under-five clinic and enhanced breastfeeding counselling during antenatal and postnatal periods,” Muchima added.
He furthermore encouraged health workers to remain committed to supporting pregnant women with breastfeeding counseling.
“Workers should support women after delivery to initiate breastfeeding with an hour of delivery,” Muchima said. He said mothers experiencing breastfeeding complications should be supported and given the necessary assistance.
“Workers must also support the ten steps to breastfeeding and sharing breastfeeding messages at all levels including in the communities,” Muchima stated.
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