FECABPA MEMBERS TRAINED ON BREASTFEEDING COUNSELLING

FECABPA MEMBERS UPDATED ON BREASTFEEDING COUNSELLING IN OBALA
By James Achanyi-Fontem, Cameroon Link
30 members of the Federation of Cameroon Breastfeeding Promotion Associations, FECABPA, were hosted in a five-day long infant and young child feeding counselling workshop at Obala, some 100 kms from Yaounde, capital of Cameroon from the 25th to 29th November, 2008. The training was gender oriented as it grouped men and women breastfeeding counsellors from four regions of Cameroon.
The workshop organized by the department for health promotion at the ministry of public health was to up date FECABPA members on the most recent adequate counselling techniques of pregnant and lactating mothers within the health centres and community settings.
Introducing the subject, the Director for Health Promotion, Daniel Sibetcheu, said before learning to assist mothers, the nutrition counsellors needed to understand why breastfeeding is important and its advantages. As such, the workshop participants were taught the existing differences between breastmilk, artificial feeding and the dangers of using artificial baby foods.
Colostrum was described as the yellowish special milk that is produced in the mother’s breast during the first days after delivery. It is thick in quality. This is followed by whitish mature milk a few days later. The mature milk is produced in large quantities and the breasts look full, hard and heavy.
Colostrum is rich inn anti-bodies that protect the baby against infections. It has purgative ingredients that eliminate meconium from the baby’s stomach and prevents the child from having pains. Colostrums also has growth factors that assist in the maturation of the baby’s intestines and prevent the child from allergies and intolerance. It is also rich in vitamin A that reduces the gravity of infections and prevents the baby from eye diseases.
Breastfeeding has psychological advantages which establish affective relationship between the mother and the baby, which results to emotional satisfaction. Direct contact immediately after delivery facilitates the instauration of this relation known as mother and baby attachment.
Generally, babies that are breastfed cry less and growth is rapid especially when the baby remains in contact with the mother and is breastfed immediately after delivery. Lactating mothers are very affective, less stressful and attentive to the needs of her baby. Some studies have shown that breastfeeding contributes to the development of the brain of the child and this develops the child’s intellectual aptitudes.
The sub director for food and nutrition at the ministry of public health, Okala Georges, addressed issues related to the anatomy of the breast and physiology of lactation, while Andre Aggee Ntonga, who heads the breastfeeding promotion service, presented the biochemical composition and immunology of human milk in comparison to cow’s milk.
Tata Japhet emphasized on the importance of baby positioning and evaluation of the baby’s suckles. Answering questions on the mothers in difficulties who cannot exclusively breastfeed, Okala Georges advised on milk expression and conservation for the baby.
Lecturing on communication for behaviour change, it was said, that mothers can successfully be taken through the stages of ignorance, sensitisation, consideration, intention, trial, adoption, sustenance and sharing of ideas with other mothers. Okala George revealed that it is at the last stage that one can assess the behaviour changes that have taken place. To achieve this, the nutrition counsellor would have developed skills of information, persuasion, encouragement and negotiation, discussion on the advantages of breastmilk, support and appreciation.
The workshop participants were guided on the production of 2009 activity sheets indicating tasks to be accomplished in the year 2009 in their respective jurisdictions. Organisations that took part in the training were Cameroon Link, NOLFOWOP, CIFAS, GMICOSADE, Step Ministry, UFAPROD-MFOU, AFFE, CAFOW, NKA’AH WOMEN, COGESID, ASSF, and Alternative Sante. These groups are located in Douala, Yaounde, Bafia, Mfou, Mbalmayo, and Bamenda.
The training delivered by top level nutritionists and heads of services under the department for health promotion at the ministry of public health, ended with the handing over of attestations to the FECABPA Nutrition Counsellors.
During the WABA Global Breastfeeding Partners Meeting,GBPM VII 2008 in Penang, Malaysia, the message remained very clear that we should promote and support exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding with giving of other foods and drinks up to 24 months and beyond.
The use of locally available family foods appropriately prepared and fed to the children is encouraged. It is recalled here that complementary feeding cannot exist without adequate breastfeeding, especially as breastfeeding contributes about 75% of the energy requirements fro children 6 - 8 months, 50% at 9 - 11 months and 40% at 12 - 24 months, according to infant and young feeding specialists.
Breastmilk is thus a major provider of protein, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and protective factors. With this, it can be concluded that complementary foods should add to the nutritional needs of infants as contribution to breastmilk instead of replacing it.