BREASTFEEDING FATHERS’ SUPPORT IN FINLAND

By Yvonne Bekeny in Finland
Breastfeeding in general and exclusive breastfeeding in particular has been a natural practice in Finland for several years. The importance of breastfeeding is emphasized by health care staff, and families benefit a lot from this practice because of the welfare services provided by the state in addition to the gender sensitive approaches to child care. A look at two generations of parents in Finland reveals that like in most western countries, breastfeeding was not an issue or “fashioned as being sexy” some 25 years ago. I interviewed parents of two different generations in Finland to learn about how breastfeeding evolved and how fathers supported the mothers who breastfed.
Liisa is 53 years old and breastfed her two grown up children.
“Breastfeeding was not common and was not strongly supported by the health personnel 25 years ago. I breastfed my children because I felt that it was natural and I did that exclusively for six months before introducing liquids and soft food. I had so much milk that I extracted and donated to the hospital because milk banks in Finland generated income for women who gave some of their breastmilk to the hospitals to assist working mothers or others who had problems breastfeeding their babies. Hospitals made it easier by having health personnel go around from home to home to collect the milk for their first food banks. During the periods I breastfed our babies, my husband was totally supportive and helped me with house chores and carrying the baby sometimes so I can rest. He learnt how to change the diapers at night and assist me too with this task. Indeed, it was just a total agreement between my partner and me to have the children breastfed and to do it well”.
Sirpa is 53 years old and nurtured her two grown up children now aged 33 and 25.
Sirpa said, in her case, breastfeeding was very much a mothers business and her personal decision because it was not emphasized in their days like today. In her words, “To me, it was a burden because I did not get any support from my husband.” It was a religious and legalistic burden on women because the state and the church did not provide any kind of support to women in those days. The state and religious organisation considered that it was the right of the child, that a mother should breastfeed her baby. Many did not see how men could be associated to the task of breastfeed.
Annette is 23 years old and a first-time mother. Her baby is two years old already
“I did exclusive breastfeeding for four months before introducing water and supplementary food. However, I continued mixed feeding until our son was 11 months old. My husband was extremely supportive. He did the house chores and this permitted me to have enough time to breastfeed. My partner took the baby and padded him after breastfeeding and this help as father attachment to the baby. He gave me a lot of psychological support and I think most of my friends get that kind of support from their partners too”.
Matti is a 24 year-old first-time father and husband of is Annette
Matti during the conversation with Yvonne gave the reason why he supported Annette. “I supported Annette because I thought that our baby will benefit a lot from breastfeeding. I would give her pillows during the process for her to seat comfortably. I helped to make the place comfortable for her so that both mother and baby were in comfortable positions during the process. I used to get food for her because I knew that she needed to eat well to be able to breastfeed well too. I generally took care of her and made life easy for her. I tried to give her all the psychological support because it was tough for both of us. I did the house chores so she could have much time to rest”. This kept us closer in the interest of our baby boy.
Jessica is 25 year- old mother of two children aged 7 and 6 years already.
Jessica got her babies when “Breastfeeding was already quite common. “My husband was very helpful and did the house tasks, changing the babies’ diapers at night. Unfortunately, I had some allergies, so I could not practise exclusive breastfeeding completely. For this reason, my husband and I decided to introduce other foods quite early enough for the baby not to loss weight and my partner helped in preparing food for the babies too”.
Tiina is 31 years old has 3 children who are aged 7, 6 and 3.
The first two babies of Tiina were born with a difference of just one year. In Tiina’s words, “I got very good support from my husband although he didn’t stay up at night to help change the diapers. I used to have much milk and donated some to the hospital. My partner helped me in doing the extraction and because of his total support, we were able to breastfeed all three children exclusively for 1 year each before continuing with mixed feeding. Our first baby was breastfed for 14 months, the second for 20 months and the third for 29 months and this was thanks to the support I got from their father”.
The above interviews were conducted on Sunday, 3rd of May, 2009

Men's Initiative

SCANDINAVIAN FATHERHOOD AND CHILDCARE
By Yvonne BEKENY, MA, Development & Cooperation
When we talk of about the Scandinavian countries, we are referring to Denmark, Sweden and Norway, but in this infant and young child feeding investigation, Finland and Iceland have been included on the list because they also share similar features. In Ellingsater & Leira (2006) used as a reference, they have been as such. These are the countries in the Northern part of Europe which share close historical and cultural connections. They are welfare states which assume total responsibility for the welfare of their citizens.
The Scandinavian countries are reputable in their work and family policies that promote gender equality and through these policies, provide more services and benefits for households and therefore lessening the burdens of families. Welfare and care services facilitate the employment of women in these countries according to Leira in Ellingsater & Leira (2006). Leira further states that fathers as well as mothers are presumed to be capable of balancing employment and the care of children. Although very slight differences exist among the Scandinavian countries, they all provide mothers and fathers with ‘the choice of either publicly prolonged familised care or defamilised care services. Parenthood targets working and domesticated mothers Leira emphasized in Ellingsater & Leira (2006).
Parental Leave
Parental leave in the Scandinavia is quite a long period covered by the state for both father and mother. The duration of leave for the mother ranges from six months to ten months and even up to eighteen months in Sweden (Eydal, B. 2008). Paternity leave is a shorter period and it is three weeks in Finland and Iceland, and two weeks in other Scandinavian countries. On the other hand it was surprising to not that paternity leave has been abolished in Denmark. Nevertheless, the father can share the parental leave with the mother according to their mutual agreement. The leave period arrangement under such an agreement varies from country to country (Lammi-Taskula in Ellingsater & Leira 2006).
In principle, only one parent at a time remains at home on parental leave to take care of the child, while the other goes to work or study. However it is normal for the other parent to take regular annual leave and stay at home with the other during the same period. Paternity benefits in the scandinavian countries depend on the length of time the father has been in full employment. Lammi-Taskula in Ellingsater & Leira, mentions that ‘in Finland, a father living together with the mother of the child is entitled to parental leave and benefit regardless of the mother’s position in the labour market. In Sweden, even if the father does not leave with the mother, he is also entitled to parental benefit if their child lives in Sweden and the parents have shared custody. These forms of leave are part of the Social Insurance scheme; therefore earnings related compensation is paid during the leave period.
References
•Ellingsater, L. A. & Leira, A. (2006) (Eds) POLITICIZING PARENTHOOD IN THE SCANDINAVIA, Gender Relations in Welfare states. The policy press, UK.
•Eydal, Gudny Bjork (Associate Professor, University of Iceland, Reykjavic, Iceland) (2008)
•Lecture Delivered in the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Jyvaskyla on the 19th March 2009.

Gender & Food Security

WABA-FIAN Joint Gender Workshop Ends In New Delhi, India
By James Achanyi-Fontem
Cameroon Link
Email: camlink99@gmail.com
Africa was represented at the 5th WABA-FIAN Joint Gender Workshop held in Delhi, India from the 6th to 9th July 2009 by Cameroon, Uganda and Zimbabwe. James Achanyi-Fontem from Cameroon, Grace Mukasa from Uganda and Monica Muti from Zimbabwe, who are already involved in the promotion of infant and young child feeding in their respective countries were sponsored by IBFAN Africa and WABA.
Speaking during the international workshop, the principal trainer, Renu Khana, invited the participants’ to be diligent because the workshop did not going to get into the intricacies of gender and theory due to the short duration for the transfer of knowledge. To compensate the lapses, the resource persons put all the different tools for gender promotion at the disposal of the participants. Renu Khana added that 30% of the course was dedicated to getting participants know themselves because it is vital for planting the seeds of gender.
The participants exploited the application of gender in all aspects of their work and what gender meant for the breastfeeding movement as initiated and promoted by WABA. Working with men was introduced as a special aspect with relevance to gender and breastfeeding promotion to facilitate the expansion of WABA Men’s Initiative in all regions.
Renu Khanna, Paul Sinnappan and Flavio Valente led the participants to focus on gender in the larger context that takes into consideration the situation of the environment, cultures, political and socio-economic reflections within the communities. To achieve this, gender analysis was treated in line with the right to food and gender mainstreaming. Participants were guided on how to apply the ideas during counseling and exchanges as they conceived action plans for their different target groups and regions doable from 2010.
Two strategic plans of action were conceived that cover activities in the areas of gender and breastfeeding, gender and the rights to food. To better understand the issue of gender, Renu Khanna talked about what it is and what it is not. This was better understood when the attitudes of the male and the female were surveyed in groups and discussed in plenary putting in consideration gender natural and structural build ups.
The training was delivered by two experts in gender promotion strategies from India and Malaysia, Renu Khanna and Paul Sinnappan with the coordination of leader-icons from two international networks, Sarah Amin, Co-Director of WABA and Flavio Valente, Secretary General of FIAN.
The joint WABA-FIAN training workshop enabled the 30 breastfeeding and food rights advocates from the networks to raise awareness and sensitivity on gender issues back in their respective regions and countries. Participants were invited to include gender on their work agendas by duplicating sensitization talks and conducting exchange sessions focused on gender challenges to breastfeeding and food rights issues.
The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, WABA and the Food First Information and Action Network, FIAN, were assured during the evaluation session that the concept of gender and gender mainstreaming, tools and skills of gender analysis of the course are understood. The development of gender analysis of breastfeeding and rights to adequate food after the training in the respective regions and countries now should now become a reality.
Participants returned with resource materials for the application of gender concepts and the development of gender sensitive strategies and work plans. Within the context of the training, participants learnt about how to differentiate between sex and gender, recall dimensions of gender as a system, enumerate and list gender aspects of breastfeeding and rights to adequate food. The men and women were able to list men’s role and responsibilities in appropriate infant feeding and promotion of rights to adequate food before separating from New Delhi, India last July 10.
The workshop agenda covered issues related to gender and sex, gender as a system, gender aspects of breastfeeding and rights to adequate food, gender analysis frameworks, economic and political contexts of women, men’s involvement, role and responsibilities, gender mainstreaming and gender indicators. The participatory training methodologies included exercises, games, group discussions and presentations, role plays, experience sharing by participants and others.

Social Development Cooperation

Mambanda –Bonaberi Community To Get Social Development Face Lift
By James Achanyi-Fontem
Cameroon Link
Email: camlink99@gmail.com
The City Council of Strasbourg, France has respected its promise to donate a giant social animation centre to Mambanda population in Bonaberi, a neighbourhood of Douala City. This was confirmed during an inspection site visit of the level of progress of the construction works by Mr. Guy from Strasbourg, France recently. Mr. Guy is the specialist in architecture hired by the Strasbourg City Council to design and follow up the execution of the imposing multi-purpose structure following recommendations and requests by local development agents of the local council in Bonaberi-Douala after several exchanges and high level bilateral meetings.
According to the Mayor of Douala IV City Council, John Kumase, the project is going to give a face lift to the community as the building on completion will not be used only for holding meetings, but for organizing capacity building training and animation of the population of Bonaberi in general and that of Mambanda in particular.
Mr. Guy was accompanied by Mr. Philippe, who is the representative of IRCOD Alsace – France in Cameroon. Philippe has been the brain behind the negotiations since the initiative started. The project also is supported by the Cameroon government through the ministry of social welfare, the French Embassy in Yaoundé and UNICEF Cameroon.
Over 20 legalized associations and non governmental organisations are already working hand-in-hand with the social affairs unit of the Douala IV City Council on the design of the type of activities that could be planned and organized in the centre to cater for the interests of all target groups of the communities, when the construction will be completed.
During an introduction of the different facets of the building, the chief of the social affairs unit of the council, Mrs. Rebecca Ebeny Toutou, told the leaders of the different organisations present during the inspection by Mayor John Kumase, Guy and Philippe that an information, communication and technology unit will be installed in the building apart from the social animation and women empowerment opportunities offices.
Community based organisations, CBO, already operating in Bonaberi-Douala without permanent offices, would have the opportunity to book at the centre to use space there as contact point for their group deliberations and meetings on a calendar that would be arranged on a weekly basis by the administrator of the multi-purpose social centre of Mambanda.
Some registered development organisations are currently guided on operational strategies for fruitful planned activities within thematic groups covering health promotion, youth animation, women’s empowerment, human religious, support to the handicapped persons and the promotion of Cameroon culture through artistic works. The interactive meetings with officials of the Douala IV City Council hold once a month.
Mayor Kumasi used the opportunity of the site visit to call on the population to prepare on how to make use of the beautiful centre, in a way that the donor organisations will feel proud to have extended their hand to disadvantaged communities of Bonaberi-Douala, to help them out of poverty and illiteracy and gender inequality through good governance practices and the promotion of human right. The centre has been described by first observers as the first gender promotion gadget offered the population of Mambanda, where men and women would regularly share ideas on how to plan their development activities within the communities as a group in the general interest of all.
According to reliable sources at the council, the project will be completed within six months by the SYFA Global Company Ltd and the keys will be handed over by July ending for preparation of the inaugural celebration of the centre in September 2009. This is a good piece that highlights the excellent cooperation relations between France and Cameroon. For more on gender equality promotion click on http://genderanddevelopment.blogspot.com/ For more information on Cameroon Link, click on http://www.worldbreastfeedingweek.net/wbw2008/cameroon.htm

Cameroon - France Bilateral Cooperation

Mambanda –Bonaberi Community To Get Social Development Face Lift
By James Achanyi-Fontem, Cameroon Link
Email: camlink99@gmail.com
The City Council of Strasbourg, France has respected its promise to donate a giant social animation centre to Mambanda population in Bonaberi, a neighbourhood of Douala City. This was confirmed during an inspection site visit of the level of progress of the construction works by Mr. Guy from Strasbourg, France recently. Mr. Guy is the specialist in architecture hired by the Strasbourg City Council to design and follow up the execution of the imposing multi-purpose structure following recommendations and requests by local development agents of the local council in Bonaberi-Douala after several exchanges and high level bilateral meetings.
According to the Mayor of Douala IV City Council, John Kumase, the project is going to give a face lift to the community as the building on completion will not be used only for holding meetings, but for organizing capacity building training and animation of the population of Bonaberi in general and that of Mambanda in particular.
Mr. Guy was accompanied by Mr. Philippe, who is the representative of IRCOD Alsace – France in Cameroon. Philippe has been the brain behind the negotiations since the initiative started. The project also is supported by the Cameroon government through the ministry of social welfare, the French Embassy in Yaoundé and UNICEF Cameroon.
Over 20 legalized associations and non governmental organisations are already working hand-in-hand with the social affairs unit of the Douala IV City Council on the design of the type of activities that could be planned and organized in the centre to cater for the interests of all target groups of the communities, when the construction will be completed.
During an introduction of the different facets of the building, the chief of the social affairs unit of the council, Mrs. Rebecca Ebeny Toutou, told the leaders of the different organisations present during the inspection by Mayor John Kumase, Guy and Philippe that an information, communication and technology unit will be installed in the building apart from the social animation and women empowerment opportunities offices.
Community based organisations, CBO, already operating in Bonaberi-Douala without permanent offices, would have the opportunity to book at the centre to use space there as contact point for their group deliberations and meetings on a calendar that would be arranged on a weekly basis by the administrator of the multi-purpose social centre of Mambanda.
Some registered development organisations are currently guided on operational strategies for fruitful planned activities within thematic groups covering health promotion, youth animation, women’s empowerment, human religious, support to the handicapped persons and the promotion of Cameroon culture through artistic works. The interactive meetings with officials of the Douala IV City Council hold once a month.
Mayor Kumasi used the opportunity of the site visit to call on the population to prepare on how to make use of the beautiful centre, in a way that the donor organisations will feel proud to have extended their hand to disadvantaged communities of Bonaberi-Douala, to help them out of poverty and illiteracy and gender inequality through good governance practices and the promotion of human right. The centre has been described by first observers as the first gender promotion gadget offered the population of Mambanda, where men and women would regularly share ideas on how to plan their development activities within the communities as a group in the general interest of all.
According to reliable sources at the council, the project will be completed within six months by the SYFA Global Company Ltd and the keys will be handed over by July ending for preparation of the inaugural celebration of the centre in September 2009. This is a good piece that highlights the excellent cooperation relations between France and Cameroon. For more on gender equality promotion click on http://genderanddevelopment.blogspot.com/ or http://camlinknews.blogspot.com/

Gender and Ethics: Equality in the Newsroom

By James Achanyi-Fontem, Director of Publications
Email:camlink99@gmail.com
UNESCO partners with the International Federation of Journalist (IFJ), LO-TCO Secretariat of the International Trade Union Development Cooperation, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Media Support organized a conference on Ethics and Gender: Equality in the Newsroom from 30 to 31 May 2009 in Brussels, Belgium.
Following the launch of the gender booklet Getting the balance right: gender equality in journalism, jointly produced by IFJ and UNESCO, the conference examined the performance of journalists in reporting gender issues, the relationship between greater equality and journalism ethics, assessed the status of women in the media, and discussed the role journalists’ unions play in promoting gender ethics in the newsroom.
In attendance were journalists and union leaders from across the world who are responsible for implementing the IFJ gender equality strategies to end inequality in the newsroom. The event also showcased a range of programmes and campaigns that have shown proven successes in recent years. One day was dedicated to IFJ affiliates’ initiatives to stop gender inequalities in the profession.
Getting the balance right: Gender Equality in Journalism
This handbook is a timely, illustrated and easy-to-read guide and resource material for journalists. It evolved primarily out of a desire to equip all journalists with more information and understanding of gender issues in their work. It is addressed to media organisations, professional associations and journalists’ unions seeking to contribute to the goal of gender equality.
This booklet gives added argument and dynamism to a campaign that should be taken up in every newsroom, every media house and every union meeting. Journalism has its roots in the fight for decency, progress and rights for all. It will honour its tradition and reinvigorate the profession when the ideas, guidelines and advice in these pages are put into practice.
UNESCO, jointly with its partners, invites journalists to use this handbook to become better informed when dealing with gender issues in the media sphere. The book will assist people working in the media to assess progress on gender equality, identify challenges, and contribute to local, regional and global debates leading to the formulation of concrete policies to promote gender equality and the advancement of women worldwide. For more information, click on http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ or visit the Cameroon Link Gender and Development Blog at http://cameroonlink.blogspot.com/

Nkah Njenquinne Hydro Electricity Project

Due to the increase in fuel prices, difficulties of AES Sonel to connect many rural areas in Cameroon and climate change issues, many communities are striving towards micro hydro electricity. Some of which are financed by foreign donors while others by the communities themselves especially elites. Nkah Njenquinne Hydro Electricity Project launched recently is a good example of a self help community initiative in Lebialem division, in the south west region of Cameroon.
The project was launched on the 30th May 2009 at Mbe Njilem’s Palace. That same day, a similar initiative took off in Muyuka, Fako division..This ceremony was attended by renewable energy technicians from ADEID Bafoussam and several guests from Nkah and Lebang neighbourhood. It was also a cultural festival opportunity as people sang and danced traditional rhythms and speeches of encouragement to the people were echoed. Visitors were taken to the project site at “Ntung Forbeteh”, some three kilometres away from Mbe Njilem’s palace. For more information contact, Njinkeng Coney of ADEID Baoussam, Cameroon by email: njiconey@yahoo. fr