A nurse with a breastfeeding mother during routine clinic visit. Photo: Ministry of Health.
Mothers in Marsabit have been called upon to ensure that they breastfeed their children to help them build, develop and boost their immune system.
The remarks were made by Tume Roba, a nutritionist officer from Marsabit County Referral Hospital, who explained the importance of breast milk in the immune system of infant children.
According to Roba, children are required to be breastfed exclusively for six months on breast milk, before being introduced to foods. She however, explained instances that breastmilk is not available, like when the mother dies while giving birth, and those that suffer mental instability from pain during childbirth.
In such unavoidable events, Roba says the child will be fed with artificial milk like Nun, and cow milk, which she cautioned that must be boiled to correct temperatures, and high levels of hygiene maintained by their guardians.
“There is no any other alternative that is good compared to the breastmilk of the mother, but there are some cases where these mothers are unable to breastfeed, for example when a mother dies during childbirth, or develops mental illness after giving birth, and making it difficult for the baby to be breastfed, in such instances, we usually have alternatives, like nun and normal cow milk, but mothers should ensure that the milk is boiled well and ensure high levels of hygiene,” she explained.
Additionally, Roba advised the breastfeeding mothers on ensuring that they eat proper, balanced and nutritious meals, so that their babies can get crucial minerals to fight diseases in the body. she urged mothers to eat at least five meals per day, for the breastmilk to have nutrients that will help in the development and growth of the child’s immune system.
“It is important also for mothers to watch what they eat, they should at least eat a variety of meals, which are balanced and in proper portions, eating three meals and additional two that we have recommended, and snacks in between, will ensure enough supply of milk for the baby,” Roba further explained.
The concerns by Roba is to ensure that children grow up with strong immune system, that can fight attacks on invasion of germs in the body, through natural immunity developed by breastmilk.
