The Gambia will this year celebrate the world breastfeeding day for the whole of August, which is the first of it kind in the history of the celebration in the country. This information was disclosed by The Ministry of health and social welfare during a press conference held in Bakau, as the ministry outlines its plan of celebration for the program.
The Ministry urged lactating mothers to breastfeed their babies up to a maximum period, noting that breastfeeding makes both mother and the baby healthier.
Modou Faal, executive director of NANA, said 47 per cent of Gambian women are practicing breastfeeding, saying that is an improvement in breastfeeding in the country.
He said a lactating Child should be left to breastfeed up to their satisfaction, adding that breast milk helps children to be intelligent.
“We need to educate the mothers about suckling. Children should be left to breastfeed for so long, breastfeeding helps the child to be intelligent and healthier,” he said.
He also said women need to be well nourished before their pregnancy while lamenting over the short period of breastfeeding for mothers on their lactating children.
Modou Njie, director of health promotions and education, appealed to the media to disseminate the information of health and its related matters.
He said: “We appeal to the media to kindly work with us in disseminating information, because they are the people who can do that fast.”
