EDITORIAL: Working mothers need support to breastfeed

The World Breastfeeding Week is upon us, this year themed “Breastfeeding: Foundation of Life”. The importance of breastfeeding in early childhood development cannot be overemphasized, and there are no viable substitutes.

Breastfeeding is a universal solution that levels the playing field, giving everyone a fair start in life irrespective of the background in which the child is born.

It improves the health, wellbeing and survival of mothers and children. In that regard, Tanzania can, should and must support breastfeeding first by strengthening its health and working systems and facilities, ensuring that hospitals and workplaces support breastfeeding.

Unfortunately, some multinationals conduct aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes, seeking to sideline intrinsic breastfeeding. The government – through its labour and health ministries – should support breastfeeding mothers through paid maternity leave and other advantages to ensure that working mothers don’t lose out as they care for their babies.

Optimal breastfeeding has long-term benefits for children. Although Tanzania has achieved a 60 per cent breastfeeding rate, there remains a gap to be bridged in entrenching working mothers’ economic empowerment every which way.

Policies and regulatory frameworks on working women and breastfeeding mothers should be revisited to make them more congenial at all times. The government should consider extending breastfeeding-cum-maternity leave in the best interests of the newborn, the mother and society in general.

Indeed, the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action call upon governments to ensure that legislation, incentives and appropriate institutional support systems effectively empower women and parents to balance breastfeeding with women’s demand for their rights.

As we join the rest of the world in celebrating Breastfeeding Week, we should also ensure that new mothers achieve their optimal rights, including breastfeeding.