Kikuube mothers tipped on breastfeeding children
This situation has raised concerns about the wellbeing and nutrition of infants in Kiswaza, as breastfeeding is essential for their health and development.
Kikuube: As Uganda commemorated World Breastfeeding Week on August 1–7, Action Against Hunger, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, conducted a community sensitization meeting in Kiswaza, Kizirafumbi Sub County, to highlight the importance of exclusive breastfeeding.
Peter Eceru, Program Manager at Action Against Hunger, explained that through their “Right to Grow” project, operating in 10 districts across Uganda, including Kikuube, they are educating communities on the significance of exclusive breastfeeding and cleanliness.
Eceru emphasized that most infant deaths result from a lack of exclusive breastfeeding, leaving them without immunity and vulnerable to diseases like diarrhoea.
He appealed to men to support their wives with proper nutrition during breastfeeding, ensuring quality milk for their children. Eceru also addressed cultural practices that hinder exclusive breastfeeding, urging communities to abandon such harmful traditions.
Barbra Kobusingye, working with Action Against Hunger under the Right to Grow project, stressed the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, urging mothers to embrace this practice and encouraging men to support their partners in this journey.
Kobusingye also appealed to employers to create breastfeeding-friendly environments, setting up designated centers where mothers can nurse their babies comfortably. She stressed that the wellbeing of babies begins from day one, highlighting the critical role of breastfeeding in their development.
Teddy Kyomugisa, the nutrition focal person in Kizirafumbi Sub County, has expressed concerns over the growing trend of families dedicating their land to sugar cane cultivation, leaving no space for food crops. This shift has led to malnutrition as well as social problems such as marriage breakdown.
According to Kyomugisa, men in the area sell the sugar cane and use the proceeds for personal gain, leaving their families without access to essential nutrients. Furthermore, she noted that people living with HIV in the region are reluctant to seek treatment, resulting in a lack of breastfeeding support and exacerbating malnutrition.
Kyomugisa’s warnings highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to address the interconnected issues of nutrition, health, and social welfare in Kizirafumbi Sub County.
Shadrach Silver Muhumuza, the LC3 Chairman of Kizirafumbi Sub County, has issued a call to action to all men in the area, urging them to play a supportive role in their wives’ nutrition and breastfeeding journey.
In his message, Chairman Muhumuza emphasized the importance of men giving their wives peace of mind, in addition to providing assistance with nutrition-related issues during breastfeeding. By doing so, men can help create a conducive environment for their partners to focus on nurturing their children.
Prince Dickson Ssebuliba, a resident of Kiswaza, has highlighted a pressing issue affecting mothers in the area.
According to Ssebuliba, women employed at the Hoima Sugar Factory are unable to balance work and breastfeeding due to the factory’s policy prohibiting them from bringing their babies to work.
As a result, many mothers are forced to devote most of their time to their jobs, leaving them with insufficient time to care for their children, including breastfeeding.
This situation has raised concerns about the wellbeing and nutrition of infants in Kiswaza, as breastfeeding is essential for their health and development.
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