Men should take interest in breastfeeding – GHS Director

The Deputy Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Gloria Quansah Asare, has admonished all men and husbands to take keen interest in breastfeeding matters even though the practice is peculiar to women.

It is believed that due to the position of fathers and men in general in the family setting as heads of the families, they will influence women to continue breastfeeding their babies due to the enormous benefits derived from it.

“Fathers should promote breastfeeding among their wives,” Dr Quansah Asare emphasised. Breastfeeding, especially up to the second year or the optimal stage of the baby, helps in promoting the child's health and brain development and also reduces infant mortality by nearly 13%. She was speaking at the World Breastfeeding Week celebration in Accra. The celebration is on the theme: “Breastfeeding: A winning Goal for life.”

She said one of the popular musicians in Ghana, Michael Owusu Addo, popularly known as Sarkodie, has been contracted to sing a song on breastfeeding, with the aim of promoting the practice.

Madam Eunice Sackey, National Co-ordinator of the National Breastfeeding Programme, explained that exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding for two years and beyond provided high-quality nutrients and adequate energy, and helped prevent hunger and malnutrition.

Madam Sackey added that breastfeeding was a natural and low-cost way of feeding babies. “It is affordable for everyone and does not over- burden household budgets compared to artificial feeding.” She added that in order to promote, protect and support breastfeeding in relation to the Millennium Development Goals, there is the need to analyse gaps and understand challenges associated with artificial feeding of babies. She suggested that people write stories and poetry celebrating breastfeeding, and develop mother-friendly workplaces by advocating breastfeeding breaks.