MOTHERS have been advised to breastfeed their children to strengthen their immune systems and promote physical and mental development. The call aims to counter the misconception that breastfeeding causes sagging breasts.

Neema Joshua, Assistant Director of Nutrition Services at the Ministry of Health, made the remarks here yesterday during the opening of a two-day seminar for nutrition stakeholders, held as part of World Breastfeeding Week.

She stated that women should breastfeed their children exclusively for the first six months to build their immunity and support their physical and cognitive growth. "My appeal to mothers is that breastfeeding is life and health," she said. "When a mother breastfeeds her child, she protects them from many issues, including illnesses, and also builds their cognitive growth to produce future leaders."

Joshua also called on fathers to be at the forefront of encouraging their wives to breastfeed and to abandon the false notion that it causes breasts to sag.

"Breasts are not just for beauty. There are many other things that give a woman beauty. So, men should stop being the reason their wives quit breastfeeding because they fear their breasts will sag," she said. "Breasts can sag even if you don't breastfeed; it's a natural part of aging, and it can even happen before the age of 30 as body muscles tire."

Regarding the seminar, she said it brought together various nutrition stakeholders, including representatives from the ministries of health, industry and trade, the president's office-regional administration and local government and nutrition experts from regions down to the clinic level. 

The seminar's goal was to discuss strategies for creating enabling environments for breastfeeding mothers, particularly in their workplaces.

Dr Otilia Gowelle, Director of Preventive Department at the Ministry of Health, also spoke, noting that breastfeeding has many benefits for both mother and child. "For the child, it helps strengthen their immunity and builds a sense of love," she said. "For the mother, it helps increase milk production and reduces stress. Some people have postpartum depression and sometimes not breastfeeding is the cause."