Breaking with Tradition, Mother Exclusively Breastfeeds Eight Healthy Children
Nonhlanhla Nxumalo, a Rural Health Motivator in Mantambe in Shiselweni, lives the life she preaches to her community. The mother of eight children, four boys and four girls, bucked traditional mixed feeding practices and did what she believed was right for her children, exclusively breastfeeding them for six months. Now, Nonhlanhla encourages other mothers in her community to exclusively breastfeed their children. It is recommended that all mothers, regardless of their HIV status, exclusively breastfeed their baby for the first six months of life. It has been proven that exclusive breastfeeding protects children from under nutrition and other common illnesses, such as diarrhea and respiratory infections, which can be fatal to infants. However, traditional feeding practices in Swaziland dictate against exclusive breastfeeding. Mixing breast milk with soft porridge is commonly practiced and only 30% of mothers in Swaziland exclusively breastfeed their children for the first six months of life. But Nonhlanhla is trying to change all that. “I did not get support from my mother in law with my children,” says Nonhlanhla. “She insisted that the children be breastfed and given soft porridge at the same time. The earlier generation gave mixed feeding to their children and they now find it hard to accept that times have changed.” But Nonhlanhla would not back down. “She would insist but I would just ignore her until she got used to the fact that I was not willing to mix feed my children.” Today, Nonhlanhla has no regrets about her decision. “My children are growing up well and doing excellently at school,” she says. Exclusive breastfeeding was also a healthy economic choice for Nonhlanhla and her children. Although married, Nonhlanhla says she raised her children without full support from her husband. “I was struggling financially, but with exclusive breastfeeding, my children grew up well, healthy and strong. They were free from illnesses such as kwashiorkor, diarrhea and other illnesses.” Nonhlanhla could not afford to buy formula or other breast milk substitutes, but her breast milk provided for her children’s nutritional needs during the critical stages of their lives. “I strongly recommend exclusive breastfeeding as it helped me financially,” says Nonhlanhla. “But more importantly, my children and I have a mother love bond that was created during breastfeeding and that makes me very happy.”
A Rural Drama Club Tackles the Tough Issues
A Rural Drama Club Tackles the Tough Issues Langeni, December 2007 -- Well spoken with a broad smile, Bongiwe is a natural actress. Even when her stage is a big dusty field at the side of the road, she shines. Her gestures are big and bold, and the 20 or so community grandparents nestled under the trees follow her every move. At 17, Bongiwe is the second oldest member of the eLangeni Youth Drama Group. The other 15 members range in age from seven to 18 years. The day’s performance was one of their best, portraying how physical abuse of children impacts families and communities. “I feel fortunate to be in the club,” says Bongiwe. “School is almost finished and there isn’t much hope for a job here. But I could be doing nothing. Instead I’m having fun and helping my community.” An expert at creating other worlds for her audiences, Bongiwe has no illusions for herself about finding work. She knows that her chances of gaining employment, even with a high school diploma, are slim. Nearly 40% unemployment and 69% of the population living below the poverty line makes young people like Bongiwe vulnerable – to HIV infection, unwanted pregnancy, and a host of other ills that plague the rural poor, especially women, in Swaziland. But drama clubs like those in eLangeni keep youth busy, out of trouble, and help teach them something along the way. Recognizing the potential of drama, UNICEF teamed up with Swaziland Theatre for Children and Young People (SWATCYP) in 2006 to promote theatre as a tool to educate and entertain children and youth. A nationwide drama festival followed and clubs such as the one in eLangeni were formed across Swaziland. A similar programme was held in 2007 to reach out to even more children. The drama clubs don’t shy away from the tough issues. ELangeni Drama Club performances address child abuse, HIV, drug addiction and child trafficking – issues that Swazi children face each day. “More than 12,000 children have been reached through theatre programmes,” says SWATCYP Secretary General Maswati Dludlu. “These children teach one another and teach the communities at the same time. The children bring their own ideas and experiences to the performance so it makes the messages they send more meaningful.” eLangeni Drama Club performs within its own community and, when the club can raise the funds for bus fare, also performs in other parts of the country. Despite being together for only one year, the Club has proved itself, earning second position in a regional drama competition in mid 2007. “I know we’re making a difference in our community,” says Bongiwe. “We bring up issues that many people just don’t want to talk about. The club is so good for our people, and so good for me. I hope it continues.”
Disaster Relief: Providing hope for the future
Mvuma, August 2007 - “We don’t know what we will do for our future,” said Elizabeth Mavuso. “Everything we plant just dies and these people who are giving us help will not give to us forever.”
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