Every year from August 1st to 7th, Rwanda joins the world in celebrating World Breastfeeding Week. For the 33rd time, this day was celebrated on Thursday in Matimba Sector, Nyagatare District, at the national level.
Speaking to pureafricanews.com, some breastfeeding mothers said that although they used to breastfeed, they didn’t pay much attention to how frequently it should be done. However, with more awareness, their understanding is improving.
Jacqueline Iradukunda, a mother and teacher from Matimba Sector, Nyagatare District, appreciates the government for giving working mothers time to breastfeed. She says she’s able to breastfeed her child properly while still performing her duties at work.
“Where I work, there’s a mother’s room. I bring my baby to work with a caregiver nearby. At least every two or three hours, I take a short break to breastfeed, then return to work feeling at peace,” she testified.
Emelyne Twizeyimana, also a mother from the same area, admitted she didn’t previously understand the risks of improper breastfeeding, including stunted growth and even the potential loss of a child’s life.
“The importance of breastfeeding, as we were taught, goes beyond what I imagined. My baby is five months old, and I’m now changing how I breastfeed him because I now understand its significance for his health. I also learned that frequent breastfeeding strengthens the bond between mother and child,” she said.
Juliette Murekatete, the Vice Mayor of Nyagatare District in charge of social affairs, emphasized that proper breastfeeding is crucial for a child’s healthy development and a strong immune system.
“When a child is properly breastfed, they grow well. The parent also feels confident and proud to see their child healthy, which brings joy and well-being to the whole family,” she spoke.
Mireille Batamuliza, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), said breastfeeding is not only a child’s right but also a parental duty, with benefits that extend beyond the child to the entire family.
“A well-breastfed child grows into a productive person who contributes positively to our country and society. We encourage mothers to breastfeed frequently, as this helps them produce enough milk to meet the baby’s needs for healthy growth,” she stated.
Proper breastfeeding contributes to healthy brain development, improves thinking capacity, and plays a role in academic success by preventing cognitive stunting.
Moreover, exclusive breastfeeding from birth up to at least 23 months protects children from malnutrition.
2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS) shows improvement in early initiation of breastfeeding (within the first hour after birth), which increased from 80.5% in 2015 to 85.3% in 2020. However, exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months declined from 87.3% to 80.9%, and breastfeeding up to 24 months dropped from 87.2% to 85%, indicating that 14.6% of children are not breastfed up to age two.
World Breastfeeding Week was first launched in 1992 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF to combat malnutrition and stunting in children.
