Fatimah, senior health officers, support groups and children give the thumbs-up to the launch of breast-feeding week.

SIBU: Breast-feeding delays or prevents allergic disorders.

This was pointed out by Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah when officiating at the launch of the World Breast-Feeding Week 2014 at state-level in the Civic Centre here yesterday.
She said women working in the public sector had been given three months’ maternity leave, and could opt to take unpaid leave of up to five years to care for their children; while their husbands working in the public sector are given a week of paternity leave.

The event themed ‘Breast feeding: A winning Goal – For Life’ organised by the State Health Department was attended by its director Datu Dr Zulkifli Jantan, Sibu Divisional health officer Dr Muhamad Rais Abdullah and Sibu Hospital director Dr Ngian Hie Ung.

Fatimah, who is also Dalat assemblywoman, said facilities like baby-friendly areas would be provided including at shopping centres.

She said the mass media played a vital role in heightening awareness among communities on the importance of breast-feeding babies.

All mothers were encouraged to breast feed their babies from birth to six months, and to continue to do so until two years of age.

Complementary food should be started and given from six months of age.

She said breast-feeding provided the most complete nutrition for the first six months of the baby’s life.

“Breast milk is fresh, absolutely clean and at the prefect temperature for the baby, easily digested, has antibodies, and protects baby from infections like diarrhoea, colds and pneumonia as well as reduce the risk of infantile diabetes.

“It also delays or prevents allergic disorders like asthma, eczema and infantile colic, and helps baby to develop better psychomotor, emotional, social development and intellectual growth,” she said.

Breast milk is free and breast feeding allows bonding between mother and child; reduces the risk of uterine, ovary and breast cancers and help mothers lose weight.

She said the practice was encouraged to uplift the health of children in Sarawak.

“I welcome participation and commitment from all government departments, the private sector and non-governmental organisations for breast feeding exclusively for the first six months from birth to achieve the aim of World Breast-feeding Week 2014,” she said.

This year’s theme stressed the importance of perpetuating the practise of breast-feeding to realise the objective of Millennium Development Goals (MDG) set by World Health Organization (WHO).

MDG was a recognition by heads of governments throughout the world and United Nations in year 2000 for priority to be given to human development in fighting poverty and promoting health as the key to safeguarding the social and economic prosperity of a nation, which in turn contribute to global prosperity.

Fatimah said breast-feeding from birth could reduce the 13 per cent baby mortality rate and if continued with complementary food after six months, reduce it by another six per cent.

Zulkfili said the Health Ministry had provided various facilities in hospitals and clinics to encourage breast-feeding.

In Malaysia, 36.7 per cent of babies are breast fed for the first six months of life whereas it is only 13.6 per cent in Sarawak, which is still very low compared with other states.

“Not breast feeding and incomplete intake of food contribute towards malnutrition among babies and children,” Zulkfili pointed out.