Tajikistan, a country with hot summers and vast rural areas, had to refine its approach to promoting breastfeeding and protecting infant health. WHO highlights the country’s experience during World Breastfeeding Week 2022 (August 1-7).
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“In our country, many mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding, but not for long. There has been a decline in the exclusive breastfeeding rates of infants aged 4-5 months. Heatwaves can be one of the reasons which, of course, can be a challenge for parents of young children. During hot seasons, many parents tend to give their children water to drink – even though mother’s milk can effectively meet all the nutritional needs of a child, said Dr. Sherali Rakhmatulloev, Tajikistan’s chief childhood disease specialist.
The WHO recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for at least the first 6 months of their life. Read also : Maricopa County Public Health Awards Community Groups nearly $6 million to address health disparities. There is solid evidence that exclusive breastfeeding will not only keep your baby well-nourished and happy, but will also protect them from non-communicable diseases, reducing the risk of childhood obesity, diabetes and even some types of cancer.
To promote this message and strengthen its reach, the Tajik authorities are counting on health professionals.
In Tajikistan’s rural areas, which account for over 70% of the country’s population, the role of primary health care is particularly important. Here, health professionals can be the only source of health information and can bring long-term positive changes.
Mothers need further support
“When a mother comes home from the maternity hospital, she and her family need further support. Of course, parents with young children go to primary health care. This may interest you : Dr. Annette Mercatante, colleagues reflects on the end of her career at St. Clair County Health Dept.. Parents will know the best way to feed their baby based on the guidance they will get, ‘added Dr Rakhmatulloev.
He was one of the first doctors in Tajikistan to introduce the WHO-recommended practice of allowing mothers to stay with their babies in maternity rooms and start breastfeeding right after birth. Today it is normal practice in many hospitals across the country.
According to Dr. Rakhmatulloev, raising awareness about health and providing the latest evidence-based information is key to introducing good health practices.
The WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases is supporting this work by organizing a series of workshops and consultations under the Child Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). The activities of BFHI are aimed at training coaches and providing health professionals in Tajikistan with appropriate guidelines and other tools to promote exclusive breastfeeding as the best choice for the health of both mothers and infants.
Best choice for mother and baby
With the help of primary care workers, fewer people in Tajikistan rely on substitutes for mother’s milk and other baby foods that can have a detrimental effect on children’s health. Ten years ago, Tajikistan’s sole breastfeeding rate was around 24%. In 2017, it reached 36%. To further increase these indicators, the country’s authorities are now updating their National Health Strategy in line with the WHO’s 2020-2025 European Work Program. See the article : Statement by HHS Secretary Becerre on the Supreme Court Judgment in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case. The national target is to achieve 50% exclusive breastfeeding by 2025.
The BFHI training programs support the implementation of the ten steps to successful breastfeeding recommended by the WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
