Leave boobs to babies, fathers told

Health officials have urged fathers to stop "fighting" their newborns for their mothers' breasts and instead become active allies in supporting breastfeeding mothers.

Unicef Namibia country representative Samuel Ocran yesterday also revealed that fewer than half of Namibian infants under six months are exclusively breastfed.

Addressing the commemoration of World Breastfeeding Week at Windhoek Central Hospital, Ocran said fathers have a critical role to play in ensuring mothers are able to breastfeed successfully.

“Your role does not begin when your child starts walking. It begins long before that," he said. "When your wife is exhausted after a sleepless night, you are supposed to help her. When your wife is uncertain, encourage her. When she needs time to breastfeed, protect that time. When others offer misinformation about breastfeeding, stand beside her,” he said.

Ocran stressed that breastfeeding is not solely a mother’s responsibility.

“Every father who supports a breastfeeding mother is investing in the strength and future of his child,” he said.

He said breast milk not only nourishes babies but also protects and strengthens children from their first day of life by reducing the risk of infections and supporting healthy brain development. Mothers also benefit from lower risks of breast and ovarian cancers and type 2 diabetes.

“It is one of the smartest investments we can make,” Ocran said.

His remarks come as the health ministry expressed concern over breastfeeding rates in Namibia.

Deputy health minister Suzan Ndjaleka said the 2024 SMART Nutrition Survey found that only 49% of infants aged between zero and five months are exclusively breastfed. Early initiation of breastfeeding stands at 63.6%, while continued breastfeeding among children aged 12 to 23 months has dropped to 36%. Bottle-feeding was reported at 34.1%.

Ndjaleka warned that the figures indicate many children are being introduced to other foods too early, exposing them to malnutrition and chronic illnesses.

“These numbers tell us that our children are being weaned too early, often onto inadequate complementary foods, directly exposing them to the risks of malnutrition and chronic illness. We must change this narrative,” she said.

Embrace breastfeeding

Ndjaleka reiterated that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life before being introduced to safe, nutritious complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding until the age of two years.

Acting deputy director of the family health division Marjorie van Wyk said although almost all babies are breastfed at birth, very few continue breastfeeding until the recommended age.

“We want 100% to be breastfeeding at the age of two and beyond,” she said.

Van Wyk said sustainable support systems are essential, beginning with antenatal counselling and continuing after delivery through practical breastfeeding support.

She said communities must also embrace exclusive breastfeeding, adding that support should extend beyond health facilities.

“We must build our systems so strong that if a security guard sees a bottle or dummy at the gate, they throw it away to encourage exclusive breastfeeding,” she said.

Campaign launched

To improve breastfeeding outcomes, Ndjaleka said the ministry will roll out the 'Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding' across maternity wards, antenatal clinics and health facilities nationwide. The initiative includes training health workers to provide skilled counselling and practical support to mothers.

She also called on employers to create breastfeeding-friendly workplaces by providing adequate maternity leave, breastfeeding rooms and flexible working arrangements, while urging communities to normalise breastfeeding and fathers to take a more active role in supporting mothers.

This year’s World Breastfeeding Week commemoration was held under the theme ‘Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems’.