It is imperative to note that exclusive breastfeeding for newborns is of utmost importance, as strongly emphasized by the Chief Nutritionist of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation(MoHS). The Chief Nutritionist, Aminata Shamit Koroma has urged mothers to do exclusive breastfeeding, noting that there are three hundred and ninety-three nine hundred and thirteen (393,913) children in Sierra Leone who are stunted which is directly linked to malnutrition. She revealed that there is a general decrease in malnutrition in Sierra Leone, especially in stunting and overweight. Aminata Shamit Koroma further encouraged mothers to tap into the knowledge of nutritionists who are stationed across hospitals in the country for the provision of nutrition services.
The Chief Nutritionist was speaking at a two-day sensitization for Members of Parliament on the Breastmilk Substitute Act of 2021. At the end of the two-day engagement, Members of Parliament present expressed willingness to help popularise the Breast Milk Substitute Act of 2021 in their respective districts.
The two-day engagement was held at the Atlantic Hotel, on Beach Road in Freetown. The Chief Nutritionist emphasized the need to feed the children right to prevent sicknesses such as diabetes. She encouraged mothers to breastfeed, noting that it is healthy for the child. The CN further urged mothers to stop feeding babies below six months. “More than 70% of breastmilk is water, and the more the mother breastfeeds the more milk the mother produces,” she revealed.
In a PowerPoint presentation, the Chief Nutritionist noted that malnutrition leads to child mortality. She therefore emphasized the need for nutrition surveillance in the country. She revealed that plans are underway to establish a nutrition information system which, according to her will be a one-stop shop.
The Chief Nutritionist further emphasized the need for more research, noting that many questions about nutrition issues remain unanswered. She also emphasized the need for proper coordination in the sensitization and popularization of the Act. She noted that so many sicknesses are on the rise, hence, the need to address nutrition issues.
Discussing the breastfeeding challenges, Senior Nutritionist, Mariama Ellie, revealed that with exclusive breastfeeding, the child is less likely to die, have less diarrhoea, less infection, lower risk of being overweight, lower risk of chronic disease, etc. In terms of benefit to the mother, with breastfeeding, Ellie noted that the mother will be less likely to get pregnant in the early months, and lower risk of maternal cancer (ovarian and breast cancer), etc.
Chief Executive Officer, Focus 1,000, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh who graced the occasion disclosed that the brain of the child develops 80% during the first 1,000 days of the child. He remarked that Sierra Leone is good at enacting good laws, but noted that implementation of these laws is lacking. The Breastmilk Substitute Act was enacted in 2021 to address issues related to address issues of malnutrition in the country. However, most people who breastfeed are not aware of the Act. In this regard, the Directorate of Food and Nutrition deems it fit to engage Members of Parliament on how issues around malnutrition can be addressed.
Chief of Nutrition, UNICEF, Sierra Leone, Dr Vandana Joshi pledges UNICEF support to Sierra Leone in the area of nutrition. “We shall support Sierra Leone as much as we can. She recommended that there be a committee that will oversee the implementation of the act. She further recommended the setting up of a monitoring system that will oversee the implementation of the act. She urged the Directorate of Food and Nutrition to sensitize communities to ensure that nutrition is prioritized, noting that the stunting rate remains high in Sierra Leone. She further urged the Directorate to encourage communities to eat a balanced diet.
Deputy Leader of the opposition in the House of Parliament, Honorable Daniel Brima Kargbo noted that ever since the act came into being, it has not been popularized. Honourable Kargbo drew the attention of the Directorate to develop a statutory instrument. “Every act must have a statutory instrument to ensure that it is implemented,” he maintained. He revealed that if the statutory instrument is not available, it will amount to contempt of parliament.
