The Government of Malawi through the Ministry of Health and Sanitation has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding to improve the health and well-being of mothers and children across the country.
The commitment comes as Malawi will join the rest of the world in commemorating the World Breastfeeding week from August 1 to 7, under the theme, ‘Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.’
Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Ministries of Health, and civil society partners, the week promotes breastfeeding as one of the most effective ways to ensure child health, survival, and development while strengthening the environments that enable mothers to breastfeed successfully.
This year’s campaign calls on governments, development partners, health systems, workplaces, civil society organizations, communities and families to strengthen proven approaches that protect, promote, and support breastfeeding, while monitoring progress and its contribution to improved nutrition, food security and poverty reduction.
In a statement, Beston Chisamile, Ministry of Health and Sanitation Principal Secretary responsible for Administration, says the Ministry is committed to creating environments that support breastfeeding.
This according to Chisamile is through strong community and workplace support, effective government policies and laws, skilled breastfeeding counselling, protection from unethical marketing of breast-milk substitutes, and supportive conditions at home, in health facilities, and at work.
Chisamile says the Ministry’s commitment stems from the realization that breastfeeding is the foundation of a child’s food system, providing ideal nutrition needs while contributing to improved food security, maternal and child health, and environmental sustainability by reducing dependence on commercial food systems.
He adds that Malawi has consistently demonstrated its commitment to breastfeeding through national initiatives that promote stronger investment in breastfeeding support at community, health facility and national levels.
Chisamile further says stronger policies and the full implementation of national measures are needed to protect breastfeeding and prevent unethical marketing of breast milk substitutes.
“WHO, UNICEF, and partners continue to encourage countries to strengthen breastfeeding policies and programmes, build capacity of health and nutrition workers, protect families from unethical breast milk substitutes marketing, and implement family-friendly workplace policies,” Chisamile says.
He adds: “A strong support system requires coordinated action across the health sector, communities, families, workplaces, legal and policy frameworks, and communication systems. Such collaboration creates an enabling environment that empowers mothers to breastfeed successfully, leading to healthier children, mothers and stronger communities.”
Nevertheless, Chisamile notes that despite its well-established benefits, many mothers continue to face barriers that limit exclusive and continued breastfeeding, stressing that addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts from all the sectors.
“The Ministry therefore calls upon district councils, health facilities, employers, community leaders, professional bodies, private sectors, civil society organizations, the media, and development partners to work together to promote and support breastfeeding in every setting,” Chisamile says.
During the weeklong commemoration, Malawi will focus on four key priorities and they include strengthening health systems, strengthening community support systems, strengthening legal and policy frameworks, and creating breastfeeding-friendly workplaces.
