Breastfeeding Week: WHO Advises Nursing Mothers on Covid-19

As the world celebrates breastfeeding awareness, the world Health Organization (WHO) has counselled nursing mothers on best solution and approach to guarantee good health and safety of their children in view of the ravaging coronavirus pandemic.

WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during an update remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 on Monday, said mothers should be counselled that the many, many benefits of breastfeeding for newborn babies and children substantially outweigh the potential risks for COVID-19 infection.

He said at the time of COVID-19, especially when there is disruption to health services; WHO recommends that mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be encouraged, the same as all other mothers, to initiate or continue to breastfeed.

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“Finally, this week is breastfeeding awareness week. As we have seen again and again, standard public health measures are often the most effective and we are reiterating the importance of breastfeeding, which has lifesaving benefits for babies and families.

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Mother and infant should be helped to remain together while rooming-in throughout the day and night and to practise skin-to-skin contact, including kangaroo mothercare, especially immediately after birth and during establishment of breastfeeding, whether they or their infants have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.” he concluded.