By working closely with the community, the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) aims at increasing the number of babies under six months of age who are exclusively breastfed in the country, as per the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation, says a senior official. In addition to several ongoing initiatives to promote breastfeeding, PHCC is preparing to introduce a postnatal home care service that will provide new mothers with helpful advice about early breastfeeding initiation, Dr Sadriya Al Kohji, Consultant Community Medicine, Head of Child and Adolescent Health at PHCC, told The Peninsula.

According to available data, just 29 percent of mothers breastfeed in Qatar during the first six months of an infant’s life.

“It’s lower than the worldwide average rate and thus PHCC’s efforts and commitment to provide a favourable environment for mothers and their babies to access the highest standard of support for a successful breastfeeding experience,” said Dr Sadriya.

Annually, World Breastfeeding Week is observed during the first seven days of August and it aims to highlight the huge benefits that breastfeeding can bring to mothers, babies and the community. The theme of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week ‘Breastfeeding: Foundation for Life,’ is a recognition of the importance of breastfeeding to a baby’s future.

“In Qatar and at PHCC, it is an opportunity to promote breastfeeding and give new mothers access to the quality care, counselling and support they need,” said Dr Sadriya.

To mark World Breastfeeding Week, PHCC is hosting a number of events and activities to encourage the practice and create more awareness.

“Specialised nurses and maternal and child counsellors will be available across all PHCC health centres to guide mothers and fathers thorough breastfeeding facts and help them understand the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby,” said Dr Sadriya.

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Source: Demi Jan Health Care

Also, a video developed by PHCC is being screened at all health centres to create more awareness amongst the community about breastfeeding. A lecture was held last Sunday on ‘Working Mothers and Breastfeeding’ for the PHCC female staff.

Further, all PHCC facilities are in compliance with International code of ‘Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes, which was adopted by the World Health Assembly and Unicef. Breastfeeding rooms and areas have been allocated as well at all the facilities although breastfeeding is permitted and encouraged anywhere a mother chooses in the health centre.

“Lactation support can be requested at all health centres, where Maternal and Child Health counsellors are available to counsel and support moms about breastfeeding,” said Dr Sadriya.

“A six-week postnatal check is available for vaginal delivery mothers at all PHCC centres and one of its aim is to provide health promotion guidance to the mothers. The Maternal Health Counselor will inquire about the baby feeding status and will support the mother accordingly on breastfeeding,” she added.

Also, PHCC is also in the process of designing a postnatal home care service that will include at least a first visit within 48 hours after hospital discharge to ensure the mother is coping well and being provided with helpful advice about early breastfeeding initiation, according to Dr Sadriya.

Meanwhile, there are many misconceptions about breastfeeding in Qatar and around the world such as many women do not produce enough milk, it is normal for breastfeeding to hurt, a breastfed baby needs extra water in hot weather.

“At PHCC, we have developed a brochure ‘Breastfeeding, between Myths and Facts’ that is available in all PHCC Well Baby Clinics and aims to provide helpful information on common breastfeeding misconceptions, hoping to guide first-time breastfeeding mothers,” said Dr Sadriya.