MUSCAT, DEC 19 - The ‘exclusive breastfeeding rate’ among Omani mothers in the first six months should be raised from the current 23.2 per cent to at least 50 per cent, said the Department of Nutrition at the Ministry of Health (MoH), citing the World Health Organization (WHO).
The breastfeeding rate among Omani mothers in the first four months is 31.9 per cent, Dr Amal Ibrahim, Specialist, Paediatric and Nutrition Department, told the Observer. “The 7.3-per cent gap is crucial for the well-being of the baby.”
“Although breastfeeding in the first six months is compulsory for the health of both mother and the baby, there’s a big gap and we are targeting at least 50 per cent.
“New mothers should follow the ten steps of global strategy of maternity care and follow breastfeeding steps,” she said, citing the results of the Oman National Nutrition Survey (ONNS).
The department has initiated a continuous training programme for all doctors, nutritionists and health workers in an attempt to make hospitals mother- and baby-friendly.
“It starts from the care given to pregnant women till the child gets six months of exclusive breastfeeding,” said Sa’ada al Mamari, coordinator at the department.
The number of mothers who bottle-feed their babies in the first 24 months in Oman has risen to 53.9, which is alarming. Such feeding is harmful to the babies.
“We want these medical professionals to be master trainers in exclusive breastfeeding, and after the programme, we want them to go back to their institution and train health/nutrition professionals on how to make hospitals baby-friendly.”
The training will take six months to a year. The targeted group are the doctors, dieticians from SQUH and Armed Forces Hospital working in areas of mother and child care, and SCBU. “We hold the programme twice a year,” she said.
“The attempt to train doctors and nutritionists is a good initiative to help train health workers at maternity hospitals to educate mothers and fellow colleagues about the importance of breastfeeding,” said Dr Rabab Sultan, Paediatrician and Certified Lactation Consultant.
She said there was a notion among Omani mothers that lack of lactation is an issue and they shouldn’t be misled towards formula feeding.
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