Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi [Photo: NTV Kenya]
The Ministry of Health (MOH) says Kenya has made progress in embracing exclusive breastfeeding.
Speaking from Mbagathi hospital in Nairobi Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Mercy Mwangangi noted that among the efforts made was the passing of the regulations on the Breast Milk Act early this year.
She said the amendments cover the rules on education and information materials on breast milk substitutes.
For instance, health workers are not allowed to accept breast milk substitutes without the approval of the ministry.
“The two houses were able to support us in passing this important legislative framework that allows us to look at the space of breast feeding and promote breastfeeding,” said Mwangangi.
The amendments followed an increase in inappropriate marketing by manufacturers of breast milk substitutes in Kenya.
She noted that the act does not prohibit the sale of breast milk substitutes or the distribution of factual information, instead it aims to ensure parents and guardians make informed choices on infant feeding based on evidence and not misleading claims.
The Breast Milk Act provides for the right of a mother to breastfeed freely and have access to the right information on breastfeeding.
The Bill further requires employers to provide breastfeeding employees with lactation rooms to either breastfeed or express their milk for their children.
Meanwhile, Data from the Kenyatta National Hospital indicates that breastfeeding prevents over 820,000 deaths among children under the age of 5 years annually, with 87 percent of them being infants of less than 6 months.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends mothers worldwide to exclusively breastfeed infants for the child’s first six months to achieve optimal growth, development and health.
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