For baby Gilbert and other babies, breast milk is no ordinary food
Breastfed, best fed
Cacia Gloria is only 17 years and a mother of one. Like all new and young mothers Cacia faced challenges during breastfeeding upon return from the health facility after delivering baby Gilbert. In addition, she didn’t have the strong social support system during this critical stage at home.
I was worried that being a young mother, I didn’t have breast milk and my baby was going to die of hunger. I was totally stressed!
According to the Uganda Demographic Health Survey 2016, currently only 66 per cent of newborns, benefit from early initiation (breastfed within the first hour of birth) and exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months. Unfortunately, those 34 per cent that don’t enjoy this basic need are faced with long lasting negative effects in their lives like the case of Baby Andruma Gilbert, now 3months, born to Cacia Gloria and Lawrence Adunga in Kozezia East Village, Palemo Parish, Adropi Sub-County in Adjumani District.
Breast milk is the baby’s first food – it contains all the basic nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats as well as water to keep the baby hydrated. It has more value than nutrition alone and it contributes to millions of live cells that boost the immunity and build the white blood as well stem cells which help organs develop and heal.
With support from UNICEF, CUAMM, organized an integrated community outreach programmes in the districts of West Nile Uganda and (Cacia’s) Adjumani District was among those chosen to benefit from the programme, It was during one of these activities that Cacia sought counselling from the medical experts from CUAMM.
According to Lameck Kimuli–a Social Worker and Stella Wadri–an Emergency Officer from CUAMM, Cacia’s situation was simply a problem of poor positioning of the baby while breastfeeding and misconceptions of her being a young mother hence couldn’t have breast milk.
Through a side counseling session, I got demonstrations and also practiced positioning of my baby on the breast and was surprised by my baby’s natural response. Gilbert is now sucking well and is a healthy baby
Apart from learning about the positioning, Cacia was empowered with more information on Infant, Young Child Feeding (IYCF) and WASH practices.
She further reported that, she was recently privileged to offer the same support to her sister who had just given birth as well.
It is worthwhile to note that Adjumani District is above the national average with an estimate of 77.3 per cent for timely initiation of breast feeding, exclusive breast feeding is at 97.6% and consumption of iron rich fortified food is at 88.3 per cent.
In that regard, with funding from UKaid and EU humanitarian support, UNICEF supports CUAMM to build that the capacity of the health facilities in the refugee settlements and host communities to offer integrated quality health care to both persons of concern and host populations. This includes providing monthly integrated outreaches in the 19 settlements of West Nile Districts.
