Exclusive breastfeeding helps prevent malnutrition

Ms Helen Ama Assafuah, a nutritionist at the Tema General Hospital has emphasised the importance of exclusive breastfeeding in the prevention of malnutrition in infants. Ms Assafuah told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, provided the babies with the needed nutrients in the right quantities thereby preventing them from being malnourished and its associated health risks. She said it also had numerous benefits including the reduction in the risk of diarrhoea and respiratory infections in the baby. 'Exclusive breastfeeding provides infants with the perfect mix of nutrients, vitamins, and antibodies setting them up for a healthy start in life,' she said. She urged mothers to prioritise exclusive breastfeeding, citing its numerous benefits as it strengthens the bond between mother and baby boosting infants' immune systems and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. She mentioned other benefits of breastfeeding as helping to save children, reduces the financial bu rden of the family compared to buying formula milk, and preventing non-communicable diseases, diabetes among children, asthma, and allergic reactions. Ms Assafuah emphasised the need for continued education and support to ensure that all mothers have access to accurate information and resources to make informed decisions about exclusive breastfeeding. She cautioned mother against feeding their babies with bottles explaining that, because it is easy for them to suck from the bottle, they might be comfortable with it and refuse to breastfeed. Ms Assafuah discouraged mothers and caregivers from feeding babies with bottles which could create bottle confusion, causing the baby to reject suckling from the breast, but advised them to instead, use cup and spoon to feed them even if it was an expressed breast milk or water. Source: Ghana News Agency